Three children die in Yorkshire house fire

Members of the emergency services and neighbours tried in vain to save the three children as they were pulled “like little rag dolls” from a burning house in Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

Fire crews and police were called to the property in Clarence Avenue at 11.58pm last night, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said.

The children were pulled from the blaze along with their mother, 27-year-old Samantha Hudson, who is in a critical condition in hospital in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

It is just an awful tragedy. Neighbour Lesley Salisbury

The three children were named locally as three-year-old Maddie, five-year-old AJ, and nine-year-old William.

Superintendent Mike Duggleby, of Humberside Police, said: “Police, fire service and forensic experts are investigating the cause of the fire. I can say that we believe the fire started within the house and there is nothing to indicate that it was started deliberately.”

He added: “Our hearts go out to the families, friends and neighbours who knew the family and the many neighbours who came out to assist us and try to attempt rescue last night. I personally want to thank them for their assistance, bravery and their courage.”

Neighbour assistance

Neighbour Lesley Salisbury, 59, described how she helped perform first aid on the children after they were pulled from the house.

Mrs Salisbury, who works as a nurse at Hull Prison, said she ran out in her dressing gown to help as firefighters pulled the children from the blaze.

“I think I just went into nurse mode,” she said.

“I was doing chest compressions and the firefighters were doing the oxygen. After that it was just a blur, a dreadful blur.

Probably the most difficult incident that we can ever be expected to deal with. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service

“Some of the neighbours said I worked on the other two as well but I don’t really remember.

“I do remember the firefighters bringing them out, they were like little rag dolls.

She added: “It is just an awful tragedy.”

She said she believed that she, firefighters and paramedics worked on the children for about an hour.

Referring to the little girl who died, she said: “She was a little angel, a beautiful little girl.”

Mark Rhodes of Humberside Fire and Rescue Service described the tragedy as “probably the most difficult, most challenging type of incident that we can ever be expected to deal with”.

He said: “I don’t think anybody in their career ever expects to face the trauma of a fire involving children and the very difficult working conditions of last night.”