A nine-year-old boy who died in a house fire in Waterford following a suspected arson attack had undergone cardiac surgery just two weeks beforehand, according to a tribute from the Irish national children's ambulance service.
Jayden English and his elder brother Callum, 12, were both born with cardiac conditions, a 2020 social media update from Bumbleance confirmed. The service paid tribute to Jayden, Callum, and their parents Phillip and Kim in a statement published on social media on Wednesday afternoon.
Tribute from Bumbleance
“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.”
The statement added: “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.”
Suspected Arson and Drug Debt
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. He said Philip and Kim English’s home had been terrorised for years, and that his mother’s home—Philip’s first wife, 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 that house. Philip and Kim English, along with their two young children, 12-year-old Callum and nine-year-old Jayden, perished when their house was petrol-bombed at 5am on Monday morning.
Surviving Siblings in Hospital
Their two other children, a 14-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy, continue to fight for their lives in hospital. The Bumbleance service noted that the family touched “the hearts of many during their time travelling with us.”
