Dad and five boys killed in horrific Russell Island fire named
On Sunday evening police confirmed that six bodies thought to be Wayne Godinet and his boys, aged three to 11, were found after firefighters finally extinguished the blaze.
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Six bodies have been found in the aftermath of a horrific fire that raged through a family’s home on Russell Island, southeast of Brisbane early Sunday morning.
Locals told Nine News that 34-year-old Wayne Godinet, and his five children, aged 11, 10 and three, plus four-year-old twins, were the six found for after their home went up in flames.
On Sunday evening police confirmed the grim discovery of six bodies, believed to be the dad and his sons.
A post-mortem and scientific exam will be conducted to confirm the identities of the bodies.
Emergency services were called to the home on Todman Street at 6:20am on Sunday.
The blaze had engulfed the family home and spread to two neighbouring houses.
The children’s mum, believed to be Samantha Stephenson, and a 21-year-old woman managed to escape the fire.
According to the Courier-Mail, family friend Angela Dawson said the 28-year-old mum tried to run inside the house to rescue her children, but Wayne stopped her, sacrificing himself instead.
The cause of the fire is not known, and investigations are ongoing.
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Father and five boys feared dead after Queensland fire
On Sunday afternoon, Queensland Police Superintendent Matthew Kelly spoke to media, saying the father and five children were missing and feared dead.
He said the mum managed to escape and had been treated by paramedics before being transferred to hospital in a stable condition.
“As you can imagine she is in a distressed state at this point in time,” he said earlier today.
“The house has been burnt to the ground. These young boys who could have been men in the future and a man has lost his life as well – truly devastating for the community at Russell Island and certainly for the emergency services as well.”
When firefighters arrived at the home, the fire raged and had spread to two neighbouring houses.
“They were greeted with a distressed lady and a house fully alight,” Superintendent Kelly said.
“Upon arrival, the house was fully involved and multiple surrounding properties were damaged."
“Russell Island is a very small, ingrained community. They all support each other and they are devastated by this.”
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He added that police were talking to the mother.
“We are still speaking with this lady, who has lost her entire family. It is truly tragic,” he said.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire and have appealed to the public to come forward with any information that will help with investigations.
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