Father's Day House Fire In Derbyshire Kills New Dad's Baby And Girlfriend

Heartbreaking Father's Day As Young Dad Loses Daughter And Girlfriend In Blaze

A young dad suffered a heartbreaking first Father's Day when he lost his six-month old daughter and her teenage mother in a house fire in Derbyshire.

A car fire that spread to nearby flats in Langley Mill killed Amy Smith, 17, her friend Ed Green, and her daughter Ruby Gaunt, and led to five others requiring hospital treatment.

The child's father, Shaun Gaunt, was rescued from the blaze that started around 4am, and is reportedly recovering in hospital.

A neighbour who helped save him and his friend said that Mr Gaunt was running around in his underpants screaming "help, my girlfriend and baby are inside", Mail Online reported.

Amy Smith, 17, was killed in the Derbyshire house fire along with her six-month-old daughter Ruby Gaunt

Neighbours used ladders to help rescue people from the blaze, and one child was thrown from a window onto a mattress below.

A fire service spokesman said that two people from the flat that caught fire managed to escape along with a further three people from a nearby flat.

Mr Gaunt was believed to be one of them and escaped down a ladder as the fire spread. He was initially carrying his daughter but passed her back to his girlfriend after he slipped, the Mail claimed.

Police said they are "keeping an open mind as to the cause of the fire and have not ruled anything out".

Shaun Gaunt is pictured with his daughter Ruby Gaunt

There has been suggestions that there were a number of disputes outside the property in the hours before the fire.

A tribute site has been set up in memory of those who died in the fire.

Katie Gough wrote: "Knowing the baby was only six months old is so heartbreaking, and 17 years of age is too young to die," the Northampton Chronicle and Echo reports.

Jodie Mee wrote: " Rest in peace girls and Ed, Heaven has gained two beautiful girls and a strong boy. Thoughts go out to their family and all the people who knew them.

"(They're) in a safe place now, Ruby will be in mummy's arms and Ed will be standing by them both. Fly high beautifuls, sleep tight."

Another, writing as Lewis Ph, added: " Love you bro I'll never forget the times we had together. We were close mates for a long time best mates. You was like a brother to me and nothing will ever change that. RIP brother."

Leanne Marie, wrote: "Three young people taken too young. Such an awful thing to happen. My thoughts are with the families at this awful time."

Neighbour Craig McFarlane told the BBC: "We went to get a few ladders and managed to get a few people out. There were about 20 to 30 people running around. Everyone was out there doing what they could do.

"Flames were climbing up the stairs and up the flats so fast. Nobody stood a chance."

Close

What's Hot