‘The screaming just stopped’: Absolute horror as mum runs into burning home in failed attempt to save 6yo daughter

Utterly heartbreaking details have emerged about a devastating fatal fire in Sydney this morning. WARNING: Very distressing.

A woman ran back into a burning home in a failed attempt to save her child before both were found dead after the “devastating” blaze in Sydney’s southwest overnight.

Veronica Carmady and her daughter Aurora, six, were killed when the inferno erupted about 12.30am in Heckenberg on Wednesday morning, while eight people survived.

Witness have told news.com.au of hearing bloodcurdling screams coming from the home on St Johns Rd, with some saying they at first though a fight was unfolding.

Multiple neighbours have reported seeing Ms Carmady outside the home after the blaze broke out before she went back inside to search for her missing daughter.

Jaykay Moon ran to help those inside and used a ladder to smash through a back window before saving one young girl. He rescued a three-year-old child, his son Jaykay Jr told news.com.au.

“All we heard was screaming,” the 17-year-old said. “One of the parents was outside screaming that his kids were still inside.

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The scene of fatal fire in St Johns Road, Heckenberg. Picture: NewsWire / Julian Andrews

Other occupants of the house are in critical conditions in various Sydney hospitals. Picture: NewsWire / Julian Andrews

“So my dad ran to the back window and smashed one of the windows and helped one of the grandpas to get inside.

“And they grabbed one little girl. They couldn’t find the other one.”

His mother, Tia Moon, said it was a “sad day” for the community: “Hearing the child’s scream was traumatising.

“The screaming just stopped.”

Veronica Carmady was found dead alongisde a 6yo girl.

She said an older man was helped out of the home with serious burns all over his body.

Several household items could be seen strewn around the fibro home on Wednesday morning, and its understood authorities are investigating whether hoarded goods helped fuel the blaze.

Friends of Ms Carmady told news.com.au the family had some friends over on the night of the fire.

Lucia Swainston, who lives a few doors down from the house on St John’s Rd, said heard a loud noise and knew ”something was wrong”.

“So I came out, bolted out there to see if everything was okay ‘cause we thought someone was fighting. It was not fighting.

“But I noticed that the whole palm tree and everything was on fire.”

Woman, child dead in house fire in Heckenberg, Sydney. Picture: Channel 7

The fire service has said it is a tragedy. Picture: Channel 9.

Ms Swainston said she saw a man run through a side gate who appeared to be injured: “I tried to ask him if he was okay. He wasn’t really responding to me, really in shock”.

A close friend of Ms Carmady said she was a “loving mum” who died trying to save her children.

Aurora had just started kindergarten and was “the happiest girl in the world”.

“She brightened up the darkest day.”

The friend said Aurora’s younger sister was in intensive care at hospital.

NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said it was too soon to speculate on what caused the fire, including whether a lithium battery was involved.”

“It’s an absolute tragedy, devastating this for the community,” he told 2GB this morning.

He added that fire crews tried to gain access to the house through a back window but a flashover occurred – where oily smoke suddenly turns to flame – which prevented them from doing so.

Police at the scene. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Overnight an adult and child died in a house fire. Picture: NewsWire / Julian Andrews

“There was nothing we could do, the fire had already taken hold with flames venting out the front windows.

“This home is completely gutted. It’s absolutely been destroyed, ruined. Fire ripped through the home (which is now a) shell of itself”.

While it’s not known yet what caused the fire, an investigation is taking place into whether smoke alarms were working.

A girl was taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.

A man was taken to Concord Hospital in a critical condition.

A second child and a second man were taken to Liverpool Hospital.

Officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Originally published as ‘The screaming just stopped’: Absolute horror as mum runs into burning home in failed attempt to save 6yo daughter