A fundraising appeal for a police officer who lost his wife and two young children in a devastating Boxing Day house fire has now raised more than £250,000.
A Tragic Loss in Gloucestershire
The fire broke out in the early hours of 26 December at a mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. Tom Shearman, an officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary, and his wife, Fionnghuala Shearman, known as Nu, were awoken by the blaze and attempted to reach their children.
Despite desperate efforts, Nu Shearman, aged in her late 30s, their seven-year-old daughter Eve, and four-year-old son Ohner all tragically perished. The family dog was also lost in the fire.
Heroic Rescue Attempts Thwarted
In a harrowing attempt to save his family, Tom Shearman smashed a bathroom window to try to access the children's bedroom from outside. He was, however, unable to reach them and could not regain entry to the house. Beaten back by the severity of the flames, he was taken to hospital with injuries and has since been discharged.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 3am on Boxing Day. The fire is believed to have started on the ground floor. Investigations into the exact cause are ongoing, but police have confirmed they are not treating it as suspicious.
Community Support Surges Past Target
A GoFundMe page was launched on Sunday 29 December to support Tom Shearman. It swiftly smashed its initial target of £110,000, leading organisers to set a new goal of £350,000. By the early hours of Wednesday 31 December, the total had soared to over £255,000, donated by more than 12,200 people.
The fire caused catastrophic damage to the family home, destroying the roof, ceilings, and stairs, and causing other significant internal damage. Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth confirmed the recovery of the victims from the property.
Nu Shearman was the founder of bespoke handbag manufacturer Hide & Hammer, which created fashion accessories from leather and canvas. The fundraiser, titled 'Helping Rebuild After an Unimaginable Loss', continues to receive widespread support from the local community and the public across the UK.
