Jayden English, the nine-year-old boy who died in a house fire in Waterford following a suspected arson attack, had undergone heart surgery just two weeks before his death. He was described as a "heart warrior" in tributes.
Family's medical history
Jayden and his brother Callum, 12, were both born with heart defects, according to a 2020 social media post from Bumbleance, the national children's ambulance service. The brothers died alongside their parents, Phillip and Kim English, when their home was firebombed at 5am on Monday morning.
In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday afternoon, Bumbleance paid tribute to Jayden, Callum, and their parents, saying they had touched "the hearts of many during their time travelling with us".
Tributes and community response
"We will always cherish the memories we have and remember the times we shared on board. Our team are without words as we try to process this unimaginable loss," the tribute reads. "We extend our deepest condolences to their family during this devastating time and our thoughts and prayers to their siblings in critical condition."
"Please know that you are not alone in your grief; the whole community stands beside you, offering love and support during these difficult days ahead," the statement added.
Suspected motive
John James English, Philip's adult son from his first marriage, told RTE that the suspected arson attack stemmed from someone else's €20,000 drug debt, reports RSVP Live. He said the English family's home had been terrorised for years, and that his mother's home, Ann English, had also been petrol-bombed in the past.
John James said he knows who the attacker was, and that the drug debt did not belong to anyone who lived in the house. The couple's remaining two children, a 14-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy, are both still fighting for their lives in hospital.
