Family of five killed in Russell Island home fire breaks their silence – as new details emerge about the father who also died in the tragedy
The heartbroken family of the five children and father who died in a house fire have broken their silence as police reveal key questions about the blaze.
Wayne Godinet, 34, along with his twins Kyza and Koa, aged four, his three-year-old son Nicky, and his stepsons, Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, died when their home on Todman Street on Russell Island in Queensland caught fire went up after 6am on Sunday.
The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28, and a 21-year-old female relative, believed to be Ms Stephenson’s sister, managed to escape the burning tenement and were released from hospital on Monday.
Emma-Lee Headrick, the children’s aunt, wrote on social media Monday morning that she had been up all night mourning the loss of “Waynie boy” and her “beautiful” nephews.
“Stayed awake mourning the loss of 6 beautiful souls,” she wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of the father and his sons floating on pink clouds.
“We have suffered a great loss. I take comfort in knowing that you rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord. With Grumpy and Nicky.
‘To my whanau in Queensland, I feel your pain and aroha. I’ll be there soon.’
It comes as Detective Andrew Massingham revealed there were several elements of the house fire that required “further investigation” by police.
Family member Emma-Lee Headrick said she had been up all night mourning the loss of ‘Waynie boy’ and her six ‘beautiful’ nephews in a Facebook post on Monday (pictured)
Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five sons (pictured) were killed after being caught in a deadly fire on Queensland’s Russell Island
He said police have not determined whether or not the fire was suspicious and that investigators were open to its cause.
“In terms of best investigative processes, the elements that require further investigation or clarification should remain confidential at this stage,” he said.
Mr Godinet and Mrs Stephenson were sleeping on the ground floor while the children and female relative, 21, were upstairs when the fire broke out.
The woman had to jump out of a second-story window to escape the flames.
Officers will remove the bodies from the charred remains of the two-story home on Monday so formal identification processes can begin.
Superintendent Massingham said the ‘male victim’ was known to police and officers had been called to the residence several times before the fire.
The supervisor was asked if the male victim could be in the house.
“On that aspect, we are still investigating that, but I can confirm that police have happened to residents in the past, but the nature and frequency of our presence there is subject to internal review,” he said.
Meanwhile, a letter from acting principal of Russell Island State School, Leanne McMahon, was sent to parents and guardians on Sunday.
The two eldest sons, Zack and Harry, were students at the local school.
“Many of you will be aware of a tragic house fire this morning in our community. It has been reported that some residents, including youths, remain missing. We extend our sincere condolences to the affected families and their loved ones at this difficult time,” the letter read.
The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28 (right with Mr Godinet), and a female relative, 21, were released from hospital after the couple miraculously escaped the blaze
The blaze was so intense that firefighters were unable to search through the remains of the home until late afternoon after fighting it from 6:18 a.m.
Ms McMahon said she understood children would be upset by the news and the school would provide support and advice.
“As a community, we will unite and support each other during this challenging time,” she wrote.
Officers were stationed outside the house on Sunday night to guard the six bodies that police said were left in the charred wreckage.
“Today we hope to be able to remove the bodies of the six people who tragically died in this fire yesterday,” Chief Inspector Massingham said.
“A crime scene has been declared on Todman Street and the fire department and crime scene personnel are there. Our disaster victim identification team has been called in to help.”
A total of nine people were treated at the scene after the fire spread to two other properties on Todman Street, about 60km southeast of Brisbane.
Police confirmed on Sunday afternoon that six bodies had been found in the smoldering wreckage.
Mr. Godinet (pictured with his two children) ran into the house to try and save the five children
Mr Godinet (pictured with his son) got trapped upstairs with the boys just before the second floor of the Russell Island house collapsed
Family friend Peter Macloughlin visited the remains of the family home on Sunday.
“The mother came out very sad and said the children were inside, as did her partner that there was nothing I could do,” he told Nine News.
Mr Macloughlin said he was ‘devastated’ for the family.
“(They were) great kids, the eldest I just gave him a bike yesterday,” he said.
The blaze was so intense that firefighters were unable to pierce through the remains of the home until late afternoon after battling it from 6:18 a.m.
The police were only able to clear the rubble at night and find the charred remains.
“Once the fire was extinguished by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services this afternoon, an initial search of the scene found the bodies of six people, believed to be a man and five children,” police said.
“A port-mortem and scientific examination will take place to confirm the identity of the deceased.”
On Sunday, Superintendent Matthew Kelly said Ms Stephenson was ‘very distressed’ but in a stable condition when she recovered in hospital.
“These are young boys who could have become men in the future and a man has also lost his life,” said the overseer.
“We are still talking to this lady, who lost her entire family. It’s really tragic.’
A GoFundMe page was started by family friend Lily Salter.
“On this tragic morning, Samantha lost her 5 beautiful boys and their father to a house fire,” the post reads.
“We started this go fund me to help Samantha with the expenses of putting her beautiful family to rest. Anything you can donate is appreciated.
Mrs. Stephenson (pictured) was found outside the house in distress
The fire completely destroyed the property it came from and spread to two other houses
“This is a dire circumstance and we appreciate any help you can provide.
“Samantha will also need essentials such as clothing, personal hygiene products, and so on.
‘She lost everything. We also appreciate you giving Samantha some time and space to grieve at this time, as you can imagine.”
Supt Kelly said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“We are not treating it as suspicious at this stage, that is not apparent from preliminary investigations,” he said.
Emergency services describe the situation as ‘confrontational’.
One resident said he heard an “explosion” before seeing black smoke billow into the air.
“Heard explosions earlier this morning and then saw the black smoke,” they wrote in a local Facebook group.
“I am saddened by the whole thing.”
Mrs. Godinet perished after re-entering the house to get his sons out of the house
The fire then spread to two other houses, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air.
One house collapsed while firefighters were busy dousing the flames in another.
About 20 firefighters were able to extinguish the flames of a third home.
Anyone with information or relevant footage of the incident is urged to come forward as the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire, police said.
Russell Island Rural Fire Brigade was the first to respond to the blaze, and witnesses then saw ambulances and fire trucks board a ship to the island to assist.
Nine people, including neighbours, were treated at the scene by paramedics.