Ipswich family-of-five left homeless, carless after two near-death experiences in 24 hours

During what can only be described as a hellish 24 hours, an Ipswich family lost their home, their car and very nearly their lives in freak accidents.

An Ipswich family-of-five is reeling after their new home, their car and their belongings were destroyed in two separate and life-threatening events all within 24 hours.

Owners of bootcamp business Red Fitness, Dale and Kyra Gilbert’s nightmare began when their operation outgrew their home and they stumbled upon an advertisement for the “perfect” alternative — in the form of a commercial shed for lease — on Facebook.

Ms Gilbert, a mum of three children aged nine, six and three, said she promptly messaged the owner and met with him to view the space.

“The man we went there to meet asked why we wanted it,” she said.

“He actually said he had a property coming up for rent and took us directly to the property to view.”

She said she and her family were quite happy in the home they had rented for the past eight or nine years but, when the man presented them with a house on acreage complete with a “huge” 35m2 shed, they decided to take a leap.

“It was a big step but I thought for the business it’s the best thing,” she said.

The Gilberts applied to rent the new property that same day and were approved by the real estate agency the next.

They relocated just three weeks ago, spent significant time and money on its maintenance, and had more or less settled in when their world was turned upside down.

Ms Gilbert said she was sitting with her children in the lounge room playing board games on March 30 when they had to “duck out” to get something, returning shortly to pick up the wallet she had left at home.

“I sent my nine-year-old daughter in to get it,” she said.

“She ran out and said ‘Mummy there’s something in the lounge room’.”

Ms Gilbert exited the car with her three-year-old and walked inside the house to find its roof had “completely caved in” and live wires and air conditioner parts were hanging directly over where she and her children had been sitting just 20 minutes prior.

“If we were sitting under that we would have died,” she said.

“Everything in there was destroyed.”

The family lost most of their belongings, from toys to TVs, mattresses, dining tables and chairs.

She said the situation “blew up” from there.

Ms Gilbert said the support of her Red Fitness team meant everything to her and her family during recent times of distress. Picture: Supplied

A building inspector immediately rendered the place “unlivable” and the Gilberts were given seven days to vacate the premises along with the possessions they could salvage.

For about a week, they shared a room at Ms Gilbert’s mother’s house.

Not a day after their roof caved in, they lost their car.

Ms Gilbert said she was driving to meet a building inspector, after dropping her two youngest children at daycare, when a car “completely smashed” into the side of her car where her eldest child was sitting.

“I actually just started crying when the guy in the other car hit me,” she said.

“I couldn’t even talk. Honestly it was just so much.”

The Ipswich mum said the 24-hour ordeal was “horrible”, particularly given they were happy with their last home and were not actively searching for a new one.

“We spent so much time and money on the property, getting it ready, for it just not to be there,” she said.

“I now have nowhere to work. I feel like I’m letting my team down.”

The Gilberts’ fitness business will remain out-of-action “probably for a long time coming” as they rebuild following the two back-to-back calamities.

Thankfully, with the help of Ms Gilbert’s friend Julie Ryan and Remax Augustine Heights, the family once again have a rental home to call theirs.

The Ipswich mum said that without the support of her loved ones and beloved bootcamp team, she would have no idea where her family would be.

“I don’t know if we’d be here today,” she said.

She said she no longer had a plan for the future, but was instead taking each day as it came.

Despite the terrible luck it would seem her family has had in recent weeks and months, she said she felt blessed she and her children had a roof over their heads, that they escaped both situations uninjured, and for the tightnight community she had lifting them up.

Those who wish to donate to the Gilberts can find their GoFundMe page here.