Mother of five killed in Russell Island house fire gives a heartbreaking message to Australia that every Aussie should read: ‘She wants the world to know’
A young mother whose partner and five sons died in a house fire near Brisbane has urged every parent to “check your smoke alarms and hold your babies.”
Samantha Stephenson, 28, watched as her family’s rented house on Russell Island in Queensland burned to the ground just after 6am on Sunday – with her partner Wayne Godinet, 34, and her children still inside.
She had managed to escape the flames with a 21-year-old relative, believed to be her sister, but when she tried to run back inside to get her sons, Mr Godinet stopped her and charged back into the burning building himself.
He got trapped upstairs with twins Kyza and Koa, age four, his three-year-old son Nicky, and stepsons, Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, before the second floor collapsed.
Police confirmed on Sunday afternoon that six bodies had been found in the wreckage.
That same afternoon, Mrs. Stephenson’s close friend, Lilly Salter, arranged a Go fund me to help the mother with expenses, including the six funerals she will have to fund.
Ms Slater told Daily Mail Australia exclusively: “Samantha just wants the world to know – check your smoke alarms and hold your babies.”
Samantha Stephenson is pictured with her partner Wayne Godinet and their sons, Koa and Kyza
Emma-Lee Headrick, the children’s aunt, 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)
Mrs Stephenson (pictured) was found outside the house – neighbors said she tried to run back but Mr Godinet stopped her
Neighbors said Mr Godinet was sleeping in a downstairs area of the house, while Mrs Stephenson was sleeping upstairs with the children when the fire started.
The young mother was released from hospital on Monday morning and is working with investigators to determine the cause of the fire.
Police have not yet said whether the fire is suspicious or not.
Peter MacLoughlin, a close friend of the family, told several media outlets that he heard about the fire from Mrs Stephenson’s mother’s partner and immediately jumped into the car.
Sam ran out of the house. She just yelled ‘my kids, my kids,’ I’ll never forget that,” he said Monday.
Earlier, the children’s aunt Emma-Lee Headrick said on social media 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.’
Detective Andrew Massingham also revealed on Monday that there were several elements of the house fire that required “further investigation” by police.
“In terms of best investigative processes, the elements that require further investigation or clarification should remain confidential at this stage,” he said.
Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five sons (pictured) were killed after being caught in a deadly fire on Queensland’s Russell Island
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.
The rental property on Todman Street, Russell Island, was largely destroyed by the fire (pictured)
Officers will remove the bodies from the charred remains on Monday so formal identification processes can begin.
Det Supt Massingham said Mr Godinet 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.
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.
In the photo: the remains of the house, after a fire broke out on Sunday morning
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
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.
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.’
In the fundraiser, Mrs. Slater wrote, “Samantha lost her five beautiful boys and their father to a house fire.”
“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.
In the photo: the charred remains of the family home, which was destroyed by fire on Sunday
Investigators flooded the area on Sunday and Monday to determine the cause of the fire
Community members left tributes for the children and their father on Monday (pictured)
“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.”
The fire started around 6am on Sunday and spread to two other homes, sending thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky.
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.
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.