A Gloucestershire police officer has been left devastated after his wife and two young children died in a horrific house fire on Boxing Day, with a public fundraising campaign now raising more than £125,000 to support him.
A Desperate Rescue Attempt
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of 26 December at a mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud. Tom Shearman, a serving officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary, and his wife Fionnghuala, known as Nu, were woken by the fire. The couple immediately tried to reach their children, seven-year-old Eve and four-year-old Ohner, who were in a rear bedroom.
Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher detailed the father's frantic efforts. "They have been unable to get to the back bedroom due to the ferocity of the fire," he said. Mr Shearman smashed his way out through a bathroom window to try and access the children's room from outside but was unsuccessful. When he tried to re-enter via the same window, the fire had taken hold in the bathroom, blocking his path.
"He has subsequently gone downstairs and tried to force entry via the front and the back door but has been unable to get back inside to the property," DS Fletcher added. Emergency services arrived at the scene around 3am to find the officer in a state of anguish, having been beaten back by the intense flames at every turn.
Community Rallies with Overwhelming Support
The fire, which is not being treated as suspicious, caused catastrophic damage, destroying the roof, ceilings, and stairs of the family home. It is believed to have started on the ground floor, with investigations ongoing to establish the exact cause.
In the wake of the unimaginable tragedy, a GoFundMe page was launched on Sunday 29 December to support Mr Shearman. The public response has been immense, with over 5,000 donations pushing the total past the £125,000 mark. The original target of £110,000 has since been increased to £190,000 as support continues to flood in.
Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth expressed the force's heartbreak: "This is an unimaginable tragedy and my thoughts are with our colleague, along with all of those involved and impacted by what has happened." She described the indescribable pain the officer must be enduring, especially during a time meant for family joy.
A Family and a Business Lost
Fionnghuala Shearman was the founder of bespoke handbag manufacturer Hide & Hammer, creating fashion accessories from leather and canvas. The family's loss has sent shockwaves through their community and beyond.
A friend told the Daily Mail they were "shellshocked" by the event, emphasising that the cause of the fire remains unknown. DS Fletcher echoed the sentiment of a tragic accident, stating the surviving officer was working with investigators to understand what happened.
"We have multiple witnesses who describe the anguish that he was going through, his inability to get in and save his children and save his wife," Fletcher said. "He is, as you can imagine, in a very distraught way." The officer was treated in hospital after the fire but has since been discharged.
The fundraising campaign stands as a testament to the community's solidarity, offering crucial financial support as Tom Shearman faces the task of rebuilding his life after an unspeakable loss.
