A funeral is taking place on Thursday afternoon for a mother and three of her children who died in a house fire in Bootle. The service for Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prue, seven, will be held at Thornton Garden of Rest at 1.30pm.
The four died in a fire at their home on Stone Square in Bootle on Tuesday, September 22. Emergency services were called to the semi-detached house at around 3.45am, where firefighters found the property "well alight". Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that four people were found dead in a bedroom upstairs.
Cortege route and community tributes
The cortege will leave Bedford Road in Bootle at around midday and travel to the Garden of Rest via Marsh Avenue, which adjoins Stone Square, to allow for a pause outside the family home. Organisers Thompsons Funeral Directors said the family has invited people to attend the service or pay their respects along the route. Flowers are welcome, but those wishing to make a donation are asked to donate to Autism Awareness.
Friends and neighbours have placed candles, pink and blue star-shaped balloons, and soft toys, including Minecraft and Star Wars characters, on the pavement on Stone Square as a tribute.
Inquest opened last week
An inquest into the deaths opened last week at Bootle Town Hall. Senior coroner Anita Bhardwaj told the court that the deaths were "unnatural" before adjourning the inquest until April 22, 2027. The fire service said in the weeks following the incident that the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery from an electric scooter.
A family tribute shared after the deaths said: "Our whole family is devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence." The tribute described Elisha as "a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children" and said the children "were loved beyond measure and brought so much joy, happiness and love to our family."
