‘He screamed for help… he thought he was going to die’

“I only left him alone for a few minutes… I thought he was safe inside the house,” the western Sydney mum said after a fire engulfed the townhouse where her little boy was trapped inside.

Chelsea Daubney only popped out to the shops for nine minutes, but it was enough time for her son Christian to accidentally knock over a candle and set their Penrith townhouse on fire.

The western Sydney mum-of-two explained that she had to go out to get dinner on Friday evening, but nine-year-old Christian wanted to stay home.

She thought he was “nice and safe inside” after she locked the door behind her.

But when she got home, she found her home in flames, and she didn’t know where her little boy was.

“My first thought was that my son was dead and that I had to get inside and just save him,” she told Sunrise.

“But then I saw him sitting with my neighbour… I just couldn’t believe what had happened. I thought it was a nightmare.”

According to police, a pedestrian walking by the home saw the fire and heard Christian screaming from a window the boy had smashed in an attempt to escape.

The passer-by was able to pull Christian through the window and saved his life.

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Chelsea warned other parents not to leave their kids home alone. Photo: 7 News

Mum distraught after son almost dies in house fire

“People said my screams were heart-wrenching,” Chelsea said.

“Everyone heard me screaming. I don’t even remember screaming.”

Although no one died in the blaze, Chelsea said that the family has lost all their possessions. But the mum maintains a positive outlook.

“My family and I have been knocked down before, and we always get back up.

“Thank God for the good Samaritan that ripped him out and helped him get out the window.”

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When Chelsea arrived home, the house was on fire, and Christian was sitting, safe, with a neighbour. Photo: 7 News

Firefighters extinguish Penrith townhouse fire

The fire took eight fire trucks two to three hours to extinguish.

According to Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry, investigators suspect a lit candle was the source of the blaze and issued a warning against leaving open flames unsupervised, particularly with children around.

“It doesn’t take long for a fire to take hold in a home. If you are using a candle, it’s so simple for a fire to ignite and take hold,” he said.

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Chelsea took her daughter with her to get dinner, but left Christian at home. Photo: 7 News

Chelsea had her own warning.

“Don’t leave your kids at home,” she said. “He’s nine years old and I thought you know, kids walk home all the time from school at nine years old.

“I thought he’d be safe at home for 10 minutes, and I was wrong.”

Christian was treated at the scene for minor injuries and then taken to Nepean Hospital.

Originally published as ‘He screamed for help… he thought he was going to die’