A father-of-two has died after jumping from his bedroom window to escape a fire at his home in Tameside. Marek Bonawenturski, 52, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after the blaze in Dukinfield in the early hours of September 10. The fire ripped through four terraced homes, including his on Park Road.
Fundraiser confirms death
Following the incident, his close friend Edyta Mickiewicz launched a fundraiser after he was said to have lost everything in the fire. An update on the fundraising page has since confirmed that Mr Bonawenturski has died. Money raised will now be used to help return his body to his native Poland and pay for his funeral.
The post read: "It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we inform you that Marek has passed away. Our hearts are broken, and the magnitude of this tragedy is difficult to put into words."
"During this incredibly difficult time, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for every single donation, kind word, and show of support received so far. Your solidarity gives us immense strength."
"In light of this tragic turn of events, the goals of our fundraiser have changed. All funds raised so far, as well as any further donations, will be fully dedicated to covering the costs of repatriating Marek’s body back to Poland and organizing the funeral service, so that we can give him a proper farewell among family and loved ones."
Friend's tribute
Edyta previously described Marek as an 'incredibly kind, supportive and reliable person to everyone around him'. She said: "He has got many, many Polish friends. He has lost everything and we need to help him. Marek is a good person. We are really shocked about what happened. He is a good man."
Emergency response
At the height of the blaze, five fire engines attended the scene with specialist resources, alongside officers and paramedics. One neighbour said at the time: "It is awful. We were knocked up by the police and told to get out. We heard people shouting outside."
"I opened the curtains and saw someone in one of the gardens. We heard people shouting outside and I heard a crackling noise. I looked out of my bedroom window and saw the fire."
Another resident added: "The man has lived there for at least 10 years. He is a really nice bloke and this is dreadful. I just can’t imagine thinking about it. It could have been so much worse. The damage is horrendous. Adjoining homes have been badly damaged."
