Tom Shearman, a serving police officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary, has paid tribute to his wife and two children who died in a house fire on Boxing Day. The blaze tore through their stone cottage in Brimscombe, Gloucestershire, in the early hours of 26 December. Fionnghuala 'Nu' Shearman, aged four-year-old Ohner and seven-year-old Eve, along with the family dog Hutch, all perished.
Mr Shearman managed to escape the cottage but was beaten back by flames as he tried to rescue his children from outside their bedroom window. In a statement, he described the loss as 'three of the greatest humans to ever grace our presence' and said he could not 'begin to describe the anguish and trauma' of the events.
A GoFundMe page set up to support him has raised more than £300,000, which he described as 'out-of-this-world generosity'. He expressed gratitude to the community and emergency services, saying: 'Boxing Day was horrific for all involved.' He also urged others to 'hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.'
Mr Shearman has pledged to honour the legacies of his wife, who ran a bespoke handbag business, and his children: Eve's love of reading and Ohner's compassion. 'I will heal,' he stated. 'I WILL make sure my unbelievably talented, empathetic, compassionate and beautiful wife's legacy lives on.'
