A three-year-old boy has tragically died in a house fire in Melbourne, Australia, after his father attempted to re-enter the blazing home to save him. Jordan Dashwood died on Monday morning when his home in Werribee, in Melbourne's outer southwest, caught alight.
Emergency services discovered the toddler's body inside the burning house on Newbury Street just after midnight. The fire had fully engulfed the single-storey home, making it impossible for firefighters to reach the child in time.
Father's Heroic Attempt
Jordan's father, Jeremy Dashwood, 40, tried to re-enter the house through a smashed window but caught fire himself. He was rushed to hospital in a serious condition with upper and lower body injuries. The boy's 11-year-old brother managed to escape by jumping out of a window. Two older siblings were not at home at the time.
Family's Grief
Jordan's grandmother, Tracie, said firefighters 'couldn't get to him' because the heat was too intense. 'I just miss that little man already. He was a bubble of energy,' she told 9News. Family friend Bianca Mizzi described Jordan as 'beautiful, but so cheeky,' adding that she felt sick upon hearing the news.
Local resident Thanh Zannit heard a loud bang and saw huge flames engulfing the property. He tried to help with a garden hose but could not reach the fire. 'The lady was saying my baby's inside – I feel really upset, I really wanted to help, but I couldn't do anything,' he said.
Emergency Response
Emergency services arrived within three minutes of being notified. Senior Constable Paul Hogan confirmed that one resident died at the scene and another remains in hospital with serious injuries. The fire was under control by approximately 1:15 am. Police are not treating the fire as suspicious.
