A heroic father who ran into a burning house to save his son has been buried with his son so he could ‘hold him in his arms forever’.
Barry Mason, 45, tragically lost his life after driving into a burning terraced house to save his son Ethan, four, on April 14.
Ethan was rushed to hospital after the fire broke out in Wigan, Greater Manchester, where he was placed in an induced coma, but he died on April 16.
The pair were buried together last Thursday and the youngster’s aunt, Jessica Causer, said they were buried in the same coffin, hugging each other.
Father-of-four Barry Mason managed to escape the inferno, but returned after realizing his youngest son, Ethan, was still inside
A photo of the destroyed house in Wigan, Greater Manchester, where a house fire broke out on April 14
Ethan Mason, four, (pictured) was rescued from the house fire by his father but died from his injuries two days later
Barry pictured with daughter Bethany
She said: “Barry and Ethan were buried together, with Barry holding Ethan in his arms forever.”
A Go Fund Me page, which has raised more than £60,000, has been set up to support the family and people have paid tribute to the ‘amazing’ father and son duo.
One moving message read: ‘No family should ever have to go through this.
“I know that no words can make a difference and no amount of money/help can heal your heart.
‘Hopefully these donations from well-wishers around the world can help alleviate at least some of your financial worries during your heartbreak.
“Sending so much love and strength to all of you to get through these heartbreaking times.”
Another person commented: ‘Our sincere condolences to all the family on the tremendous loss of your brave husband and beautiful baby boy.’
Despite his family’s hopes that he would make it after multiple operations, they confirmed on social media that Ethan (pictured) had passed away yesterday.
Barry pictured with his wife Rachel (bottom right), eldest son David (top left) and daughter Bethany (bottom left)
Mr Mason was pronounced dead shortly after the fire, which started around 2.30am on Sunday morning (pictured with Ethan)
Someone else wrote: ‘God bless you all, there are no words for this tragedy.
“I’m so sorry, sleep in eternal peace Ethan and Barry.”
Mr Mason’s wife, Rachel, 45, David, and their two other children, Bethany, 16, and Isaac, 14, all managed to get out of the burning semi and were taken to hospital. They have all been fired now.
Mr Mason’s sister-in-law, Jessica Causer, described Mr Mason as “our own superhero”.
Alongside a photo of Mr Mason with Ethan on his shoulders, she posted on Facebook: ‘Barry, we are heartbroken. Such a gentle giant and a devoted daddy until your last breath.
“Words will never describe how grateful we are to you, hold our baby there tight.”
Mr Mason managed to save the boy, but both father and son later succumbed to injuries sustained during the inferno.
A Go Fund Me page, which has raised more than £60,000, has been set up to support the family and people have paid tribute to the ‘amazing’ father-son duo there
Ethan suffered severe burns and was put into a coma, but died on Tuesday
The fire, which started early Sunday morning, is believed to have been caused by a defective mini-fridge in the kitchen.
David, who suffered burns, scrambled down a drain pipe at the back of the house to escape the fire.
His siblings, Isaac and Bethany, are said to have jumped to safety from an upstairs window onto the family’s trailer parked at the front of the house.
Mrs Mason was rescued when passers-by helped her out of an upstairs window using a ladder.
Mrs Bimson said David ‘blamed himself for not stopping his father’, but added: ‘Everyone knows he couldn’t have done that. Barry put his children first every time.
“Rachel was the same way. She and Barry shared a sofa bed downstairs because they wanted their children to each have a bedroom.
‘When the fire broke out she must have gone upstairs to get her children because she had to go down a ladder to escape.
‘Isaac and Bethany had bedrooms at the front of the house and Ethan and David at the back.
‘We were told that another friend of Bethany’s was going to stay at the house that evening but pulled out at the last minute because she was ill. You don’t have to think about it.’
Another heartbreaking message read: ‘I only hope I would be as brave as this amazing dad if the worst were to happen.
‘RIP you hero and I’m sure your family will be so proud of your bravery. RIP little man.”
You can use the Go to the Fund Me page here.