'Three of the greatest humans to ever grace our presence'

Dad's tribute to wife and children after Boxing Day tragedy

- CLAIRE HAYHURST and ELEANOR STOREY

A POLICE officer who lost his wife and two children in a house fire on Boxing Day has paid tribute to them as "three of the greatest humans to ever grace our presence".

Tom Shearman's wife Fionnghuala, 38, known as Nu, died alongside their children Eve, seven, and four-year-old Ohner, and the family's dog Hutch.

Mr Shearman, an officer with Gloucestershire Police, had tried to save them but was beaten back by the flames. He was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.

Posting on a GoFundMe appeal, which was launched on Sunday and has reached more than £360,000, he wrote: "I have no way to thank any of you for the unbelievable, out-of-thisworld generosity that you have shown to me in the darkest of hours.