Woman found dead with stab wounds at scene of suspicious Officer house fire
Schoolchildren have witnessed their heroic teacher run into a burning house to drag a dying woman to safety in Melbourne’s southeast. Tragically, the victim died at the scene of the suspicious fire after reportedly suffering stab wounds.
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A heroic teacher ran into a burning home and dragged a woman from the smoking garage in Melbourne’s southeast — but the victim tragically died at the scene.
It is understood a group of schoolchildren was riding their bikes in Officer with two teachers when the fire broke out at the Keats St home around 9.50am yesterday.
One teacher saw the plume of smoke, before going to the burning double-storey townhome and pulling the woman, believed to be aged in her 50s, from the garage.
The good Samaritan attempted to revive the woman but she could not be saved. It is understood the woman suffered multiple stab wounds.
A man who was arrested at the scene did not appear to have burnt clothes.
He was earlier assisting police with their inquiries, for matters not directly related to the woman’s death, but has since been released without charge, Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said.
Two adult bikes belonging to the teachers have been left at the scene.
Bianca Arter whose five-year-old daughter attends prep at the nearby Bridgewater Primary School, said classes were put into lockdown as a precaution.
“I was driving home and saw the big plume in the sky,” she said. “I thought, oh my gosh, what is happening there?”
Ms Arter said she was shocked to learn the woman had allegedly been stabbed before the fire.
Fully burnt out house on Keats St, Officer. A woman has died just outside the scene of the fire. It’s believed she suffered stab wounds. A man was arrested shortly after. @PakenhamGazette pic.twitter.com/gRpVqB4N4N
— Mitch Clarke (@24mitchclarke) August 2, 2019
“It is surreal, it feels so strange,” she said. “A bit of disbelief.
“I’ve got goosebumps, I can’t imagine what (the victim) was going through at the time.”
Ms Arter saw paramedics performing CPR on the female victim, believed to be in her 40s, for quite some time before she was pronounced dead.
“There are quite a number of police vehicles around, more than what you would expect for a normal house fire,” she said.
Trevor Schultz, who looks after the neighbouring Harmony Place Park, said it was a “pretty gruesome” scene.
“I thought it was the school on fire from the amount of smoke,” he said.
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“I thought the school was on fire but there were no alarms.
“There was a lot of smoke, heaps of coppers and fire engines screaming past. “It’s pretty gruesome.”
Police, CFA, Ambulance Victoria and the power company are all on scene.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear.
Keats Street resident Chris Beasley has been told by police to make other arrangements for tonight as he may not be able to return home for the night.
“I got a phone call to say the house three doors up was on fire,” he said.
“The whole street is blocked off and we can’t get in.”
Mr Beasley said it was “pretty daunting” hearing the news a woman is dead.
“I’ve seen her do her gardening a few times,” he said.
“It is pretty daunting.”
Pakenham resident Laci Tehuia did not know the victim but brought flowers to lay at the scene.
“I would just like to wish the family the best through the grief,” she said.
“All our love and condolences.
“I’m a female and to think this can happen to anyone is us is horrible.
“I hope justice is bought for this lady.”