83-year-old man dies after battle in hospital following Boxing Day fire
An 83-year-old patient who was seriously injured in a Boxing Day house fire in Gulliver has died after almost two weeks in the Townsville University Hospital.
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An 83-year-old patient who had been seriously injured in a house fire in Gulliver has died after more than 10 days in the Townsville University Hospital.
On Monday the man died from his injuries which had been “significant airway burns”.
A 55-year-old woman remains in a critical condition in the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
Police are investigating the fire, which they labelled suspicious, as they sought CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts from people that had been in the area at 3am on Boxing Day.
The fire had first been seen by police officers who had patrolled the area, who rushed inside to rescue the occupants, with one officer also taken to the hospital.
Three people identified as the Kerr family were injured during the fire, with a man in his 50s also taken to the Townsville University Hospital with minor burns.
Detective Inspector Damien Smith said the fire started outside near the house, with some sort of accelerant causing the fire to spread quickly to items underneath.
“Unfortunately the occupants of the house have lost everything, the entire house and its contents have been destroyed,” he said.
A GoFundMe was created on behalf of the Kerr family, which had surpassed its $20,000 target.
Fundraising organiser Kellie Morgan said the family had lost pets, vehicles, belongings and personal items.
Two of the five family pets had been found.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
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Originally published as 83-year-old man dies after battle in hospital following Boxing Day fire
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