Family devastated after home destroyed in Boxing Day blaze

A FAMILY have lost everything after fire ripped through their newly-renovated dream home on Boxing Day evening.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

Sarah Nicholas in the ruins of her home in Tylorstown, Rhondda, after a fire ripped through the house

(JONATHAN MYERS)

Sarah Nicholas, her oldest son Kenzie, 17, and her partner Gavin Griffiths were settling down for the evening when a neighbour banged on the window saying flames were coming from the back of the house in Tylorstown, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Running out, mother-of-three Sarah watched in horror as flames took hold, burning her house, belongings and Christmas presents.

Sarah had only just finished renovating the house in Penrhys Road after moving in 18 months ago. With no buildings or contents insurance, she has been left with nothing but said she was glad they all got out unharmed.

"We were inside watching television around 9pm and the neighbour ran up to tell me. She asked if we were burning rubbish and said: 'You've got a fire!'

"I have no words to explain what it was like. You can’t take it in. It was like watching someone else’s house burn down. I have lost everything.

"Me and my partner Gavin, who was visiting for Boxing Day, were downstairs. My son was upstairs."

Sarah thanked neighbour Paula Lewis who she said had saved their lives.

She was "kicking herself" for not having insurance and for coiling up an extension lead to a second fridge, which fire crews told her caused the blaze.

While son Kenzie was in the house, Sarah's other son Riley, 15, was at his father’s house and daughter Kasey, 23, was also out.