Wayne Godinet: Father’s heroic last act before he and his five children perished in house fire on Queensland’s Russell Island is revealed
A fallen father is remembered as a “hero” after he ran back to a burning house in a desperate attempt to save his five children.
Wayne Godinet, 34, tragically died in the raging inferno along with his four-year-old biological twin boys and his three-year-old son. His stepsons, Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, also perished in the fire when their home on Todman Street on Russell Island in Queensland went up in flames around 6am on Sunday morning.
The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28, is recovering in hospital along with a female relative, 20, after the pair miraculously escaped.
A total of nine people were treated on site after the fire spread to two other buildings.
Neighbor Angela Dowson, who described Mr Godinet as a ‘super dad’, revealed that Mrs Stephenson had tried to run into the house when the fire broke out, but Mr Godinet stopped her and ran inside.
But Mr. Godinet was tragically trapped upstairs with the boys just before the second floor collapsed.
Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five sons (pictured) were trapped in a deadly fire on Queensland’s Russell Island
The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28 (equal to Mr Godinet), is recovering in hospital along with a female relative, 20, after the pair miraculously escaped.
“He was a hero and he would have done anything to get those kids out, so obviously that was impossible,” she said. The courier mail.
“He was just a loving dad who couldn’t wait to go home and play with the kids.
“He would be all messed up after work and he just wanted to play with them.
“The whole community is devastated, absolutely devastated,” she said.
Investigators are continuing to search the rubble to determine what caused the horror fire, but at this stage, police say they are not treating it as suspicious.
Family friend Peter Macloughlin arrived at the devastation site on Sunday morning.
“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’ because of his very close relationship with 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.”
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.
Neighbor Angela Dowson, who described Mr Godinet (pictured with his two children) as a ‘super dad’, revealed that Mrs Stephenson had tried to run into the house when the fire broke out, but Mr Godinet stopped her and ran inside.
But Mr. Godinet (pictured with his son) was tragically trapped upstairs with the boys just before the second floor collapsed
Superintendent Matthew Kelly said Ms Stephenson was being treated in hospital in stable condition but was very distressed. Her family member is also in a stable condition.
“These are young boys who could have become men in the future and a man lost his life too,” he said.
“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.
Superintendent Matthew Kelly said Ms Stephenson (pictured) is being treated in hospital in stable condition but was very distressed
The fire completely destroyed the property it came from and spread to two other houses
Mr. Godinet is praised for his heroic effort to get his children out of the house
“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.”
Russell Island Rural Fire Brigade was the first to respond to the blaze, with witnesses then seeing ambulances and fire trucks from the mainland board a ship to the island to assist
Mrs Godinet, who died trying to save his five sons, was described as a ‘loving father’
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, with witnesses then seeing ambulances and fire trucks from the mainland board a ship to the island to assist.
Nine people, including neighbours, were treated at the scene by paramedics.