A three-year-old girl who was fighting for life after a house fire in Harlow, Essex, which claimed the lives of her mother and four siblings, has died, a spokesman for Princess Alexandra Hospital said.

Her father, Dr Abdul Shakoor, the only other survivor, had been transferred to the hospital to be closer to his daughter. She was due to celebrate her fourth birthday next week.

fire family 1

Sabah Usmani and her sons Sohaib, 13, and Rayyan, six, as well as 11-year-old daughter Hira, died in their end-of-terrace house in Barn Mead, Harlow, Essex, at about 1am on Monday

A spokesman for the Princess Alexandra Hospital, where Dr Shakoor worked and where Maheen was initially taken, said: "None of us can come close to understanding his suffering and the terrible loss of Maheen, Rayyan, Muneeb, Sohaib, Hira and his wife Sabah."

The statement continued: "On behalf of all our staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital, we extend our deepest sympathy to Dr Shakoor.

"All of us have been saddened by this tragedy and as a close-knit hospital community, many of us knew Dr Shakoor and have been overwhelmed by what has happened.

"Our book of condolence, which is available for staff to sign in our hospital, is being filled with the most heartfelt and genuine messages which are truly humbling.

"Our thoughts and our prayers are with our dear friend and colleague."

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  • House fire in Harlow

    Police at the scene following a fire at Barn Mead in Harlow Essex, where woman and three young children died and two other people are in hospital after a house fire.

  • House fire in Harlow

    The scene following a fire at Barn Mead in Harlow Essex, where woman and three young children died and two other people are in hospital after a house fire.

  • House fire in Harlow

    The scene following a fire at Barn Mead in Harlow Essex, where woman and three young children died and two other people are in hospital after a house fire.

  • House fire in Harlow

    Police at the scene following a fire at Barn Mead in Harlow Essex, where woman and three young children died and two other people are in hospital after a house fire.

  • House fire in Harlow

    Police at the scene following a fire at Barn Mead in Harlow Essex, where woman and three young children died and two other people are in hospital after a house fire.

  • House fire in Harlow

    The scene following a fire at Barn Mead in Harlow Essex, where woman and three young children died and two other people are in hospital after a house fire.

  • House fire in Harlow

    Emergency services talk to neighbours close to the scene of a fire at Barn Mead in Harlow Essex, where woman and three young children died and two other people are in hospital after a house fire.