Russell Island fire: Family of father Wayne Godinet who died in a horror house fire along with his five sons carry out the Haka – as investigators examine two gas canisters

They came from far and wide, united in their grief.

Dozens of relatives of a father who died in a horror house fire fighting to save his five sons paid tribute to the victims with a powerful Haka.

Their chants and cries filled the air of the sleepy, tree-lined cul-de-sac where such a tragedy would have been unthinkable a week ago.

Wayne Godinet, 34, along with his four-year-old twins Kyza and Koa, his three-year-old son Nicky, and his stepsons Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, died in an inferno at their home on Russell Island on Sunday morning.

He returned to the burning building in an attempt to save the children, but was killed inside when the second floor collapsed.

Distressed relatives revealed that the “hero” father died with his arms around the boys as he did everything he could to protect them from the flames.

The boys’ mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28, and her stepsister Connie Campbell, 20, fled to safety and miraculously survived.

The cause of the fire remains a mystery, but police recovered two charred gas canisters from the rubble earlier in the day that will now be examined by fire investigators.

Relatives performed a Haka ceremony at the scene of the fire to honor the memory of the victims

Roses and gerberas were left against a charred piece of masonry at the scene of the tragedy

Mr Godinet and his sons were remembered by about 100 family members who traveled from across Australia and New Zealand to the island off the south coast of Queensland on Thursday afternoon.

They gathered at the end of the quiet cul-de-sac gravel track shortly after 2pm, with many moving foreheads in a traditional Māori salute.

Parents held their children close, while others clasped their arms.

Then the midday silence on the sleepy island was suddenly filled with the mournful cries of a woman believed to be Mr. Godinet’s mother.

Dressed all in black and dark tones, she led the mourners down under the police tape.

There they faced a scene of utter destruction.

A burnt-out jeep stood beside the gnarled and twisted corrugated iron roof of the Queenslander’s estate, which had been razed to the ground.

Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five sons (pictured) were killed after being caught in a deadly fire on Queensland’s Russell Island

A woman, believed to be Mr Godinet’s mother, sprinkles water on the property as his father Jacob Cope looks on in tears

The staff of the island’s rural fire crew stood behind the group as some family members then performed the powerful Haka to honor the memories of Mr. Godinet and his sons.

A family member put a reassuring arm around the shoulder of Mr. Godinet’s father, Jacob Cope, who was dressed in a Dayboro Cowboys rugby jersey.

The grandfather cried as a woman, believed to be Mr Godinet’s mother, sprinkled water over the grounds.

Samantha Stephenson, who lost all of her children in the fire, was not in attendance.

Neighbors recalled seeing Mrs. Stephenson run out screaming “my kids, my kids,” as her partner ran back into the inferno to save the five boys sleeping upstairs.

A heartbroken Ms Stephenson previously urged every parent to ‘check your smoke alarms and hold your babies’.

One of her sisters later visited the site to place three roses and three gerberas against a charred piece of masonry in memory of the victims.

Moments before the grieving relatives arrived, officers packed two charred gas canisters involved in the blaze into the back of a police car.

Mourners touch foreheads in a traditional Māori greeting (pictured)

Earlier in the day, detectives from Bayside CIB on the mainland combed through the ashes and collected several items which they took with them in an evidence box.

A detective retrieved what appeared to be a broken plate and the fragment of a glass candlestick or vase.

The tragedy has shaken the small island community of about 3,500 people.

David Woodley, 62, who moved to Russell Island 18 months ago to retire, said the past week had been “absolutely devastating.”

“You can see the sad faces and feel the fear and worry and depression,” he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mourners embraced after the ceremony

The blaze was so severe that firefighters were only able to search through the remains of the home late Sunday afternoon after fighting it from 6:18 a.m.

On Thursday afternoon, police officers disposed of two charred gas cylinders that had been involved in the fire

“Everyone is in total shock.”

Mr. Woodley has dropped off a bouquet of flowers at the local police station to thank them for their work.

On Monday, police said they had not ruled out foul play.

The fire was so intense that it hit three properties, leveling one, hollowing out another and damaging a third.

Daily Mail Australia spoke to a neighbor who lives behind the property and had provided police with footage of the fire.

The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28 (right with Mr Godinet), and her half-sister, were released from hospital after escaping the blaze

Their investigation at the scene is now over and the police tape has been removed.

But police say it could be weeks before they can determine the cause of the fire – if at all.

It comes as police revealed that autopsies have been performed on the six victims of the tragedy.