‘Till we meet again’: John Mayfield pays loving tribute to brother who died in tragic house fire

A man who lost his brother to a fatal house fire at Mount Gambier has revealed he also lost his mum just days later. Read his tribute.

The scene of the house fire at Mount Gambier on July 9 which killed Alan Mayfield. Picture: 7NEWS

After tragically losing his brother in a fatal house fire, a man has bravely opened up, with his grief compounded by the loss of his mother who passed away days later.

John Mayfield, 50, has lost his “protective” younger brother, “beautiful” mother and the place he called home for years in the space of a week.

Emergency services were called to the Mount Gambier property on McIntosh Street just before 6am on Sunday, July 9, following reports of a house fire. Alan Mayfield died in the fire.

A second female occupant escaped the fire and was treated for smoke inhalation.

Alan’s son Jake Gates’, 24, who has never met his father in person, said he was deeply saddened that he’ll never get that opportunity.

SA Police said emergency services were called to McIntosh St early on Sunday morning. Picture: File

“I was in the process of meeting him — then four days later, my Nana passed away,” he said.

“I was in a video call with my dad and he said that he wanted to meet up with me — it actually went all right the first time I actually got to speak to him.

“When he said love you son it kind of made me cry.”

Mr Mayfield shared the Mount Gambier home with his little brother, though he was not at the property at the time of the fire.

Openly weeping, Mr Mayfield said he wished he could just give his brother a hug.

“It was just so hard to believe — I just couldn’t stop crying on Sunday — I’m the last one of my family,” he said.

Mr Mayfield said he could not call his mum, who suffers from alzheimer’s, about the death of his brother and her son in the immediate aftermath but when he did eventually call he learnt “she had already passed away”.

John Mayfield has paid tribute to his brother Alan, who died in a house fire in Mount Gambier on July 9. Picture: Supplied

Maxine Mayfield passed away just days after her son Alan tragically died in a Mount Gambier house fire. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Alan (and John, holding his son. Picture: Supplied by Family

According to family members Mrs Mayfield had been unwell having recently attended hospital with pneumonia.

Mr Mayfield had a simple message he wanted to pass to his brother and mother.

“I miss you both — till we meet again — love you forever,” he said.

With limited finances Mr Mayfield said he was torn about how he would lay his mother, who passed away in Adelaide, and brother to rest and whether they could be buried together.

In the wake of the unbelievable tragedy, Mr Mayfield said he was “lucky” to have his amazing daughters to support him — both dropping everything to make their way from the Riverland and Perth to be with him.

Kay-Lee Calberley left her job in Western Australia and was on the first flight home — spending 12 hours sleeping at the airport after her initial flight was cancelled.

Ms Calberley said she knew how devastated her father was when she spoke to him over the phone, and has since tried to remain strong for him.

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