Heartbreaking sight at Thorneside townhouse fire that claimed the life of eight-year-old Raven Contini – as her babysitter is feared dead
Touching tributes have been left at the home of an eight-year-old girl who died in a horrific house fire, while her babysitter remains missing.
Emergency services were called to a house on Bayside Court in Thorneside, east of Brisbane, about 7.15am on Sunday.
The mansion was completely on fire and severely damaged when the fire brigade arrived.
The body of eight-year-old Raven Contini was discovered in the house after the searches were postponed because the roof of the house had collapsed.
Handwritten notes were seen outside the property on Monday, with one letter stating ‘fly high beautiful girl’ and accompanied by a hand-drawn dove.
Another letter said: ‘You did everything you could to be the beautiful girl.
“You know everyone loved you. Even though I didn’t know you, you will be greatly missed.’
It is understood that Raven’s babysitter, a woman in her 30s, is still missing while the cause of the fire is investigated.
Tributes have poured in for eight-year-old Raven Contini (pictured) who was tragically found dead after a mansion caught fire on Sunday
Letters and flowers were left at the scene on Monday (photo)
One letter reads ‘fly high beautiful girl’ and was accompanied by a hand-drawn dove (photo)
“However, we strongly believe that person is also in the fire,” Queensland Police Chief Inspector Karl Hahne said.
“Attempts were made to enter the building and extinguish the fire.”
Raven’s mother and stepfather lived on the highway at the time of the fire and remember how much the eight-year-old loved cooking, shopping and socializing.
“(She was a) very special, much-loved eight-year-old girl,” they told Nine News.
“She was very beautiful, had long hair and she lifted them up when they saw her.”
Although no other injuries were reported, Chief Inspector Hahne said he expected it would take some time to determine the cause of the fire.
‘It’s a confronting scene for all emergency services, and I’m pretty sure it applies to the residents too. Our thoughts go out to the families affected by this,” said Superintendent Hahne.
“Over the next few hours and even the next few days, this scene will be an ongoing investigation.
“There was some support from neighbors and people in the area to get it under control.”
Chief Inspector Hahne said he had the fire under control by 8am, but firefighters are continuing to make the structure ‘safe’.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire (pictured) around 8am, but the searches were postponed after the roof of the house collapsed.
It’s understood Raven’s babysitter, a woman in her 30s, remains missing while an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway (pictured)
Neighbor Xia Iheng told the ABC she had desperately tried to help after witnessing the fire ripping through the house.
“I said, ‘I don’t have a hose, I just have buckets,’ and a young lady helped me water the fire, but it was so strong,” she said.
“I feel overwhelmed, a lot of emotions, just shocked and exhausted.”
Photos from the scene show that one side of the roof collapsed during the fire.
Queensland Police have declared the fire a crime scene while an investigation into the cause of the fire continues.