A 13-year-old girl died in a devastating house fire in Kent after a stairway collapsed, preventing firefighters from reaching her during a desperate rescue attempt.
Neighbours' Brave Efforts Thwarted by Intense Flames
Lily Anne Childs lost her life after a ferocious blaze tore through her family's semi-detached home in Ashford, Kent. The tragedy occurred on December 28, just three days after Christmas. An inquest heard that neighbours courageously tried to enter the burning property on the Bovis Homes' Nightingale View estate but were forced back by the aggressive spread of the flames.
Emergency services received multiple calls shortly after midday reporting the fire and that a child was trapped inside. Six fire crews were dispatched to the address on White Admiral Way. Coroner Sarah Clarke stated that while firefighters fought valiantly to get upstairs to reach Lily, the stairs collapsed, cutting off access. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries during the operation.
A Community in Mourning for a 'Princess'
Another child and an adult, believed to be Lily's mother, were taken to hospital following the incident. The coroner gave Lily's provisional cause of death as inhalation of fire fumes, pending further investigation. The full inquest is scheduled to continue on March 30.
In the wake of the tragedy, heartfelt tributes have poured in for Lily. Her aunt, Marie Louise, described her as a "princess" in a social media post, writing: "Rest in peace sweet girl." Lily's mother, Annemarie Childs, 40, who works as a tutor, shared poignant photos highlighting the deep bond they shared.
A family friend, Aeryn Gower, remembered Lily as "always smiley and knocking on our door wanting to play. She will never be forgotten." A GoFundMe page was established by a friend of Lily's father, Chris Kennedy, 49, to help give Lily "the send off she truly deserves."
Investigation into the Fire's Cause Continues
Fire investigators have stated that the cause of the blaze is not currently being treated as suspicious, though the exact origin remains unconfirmed. The incident has left the family without a home and the local community in profound grief.
The loss of Lily Anne Childs underscores the deadly speed and destructive power of house fires, even in new-build properties, and the immense risks faced by both the public and emergency services during rescue attempts.
