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Mourning friends and family farewell Seth Gillespie after Garbutt house fire

Friends and family have today laid to rest one of the teenage boys killed in a devastating double-fatal house fire that shook Townsville to its core two weeks ago.

Seth Gillespie and Ben Stonehouse (inset) were tragically killed in Garbutt house fire on July 12.
Seth Gillespie and Ben Stonehouse (inset) were tragically killed in Garbutt house fire on July 12.

Friends and family have laid to rest one of the teenage boys killed in a devastating double-fatal house fire that shook Townsville to its core two weeks ago.

Seth Gillespie, 18, was farewelled by his loved ones at a funeral at the Lakes Chapel in Morleys Funeral Home on Wednesday.

The late Townsville teen, who was a former resident of Tennant Creek, NT, has been remembered as a loving son to his parents Lana and Adam, as well as a protective brother to his three siblings.

“To know him was to love him,” his obituary read.

Seth and Ben Stonehouse, also aged 18, sadly passed away in Townsville University Hospital after suffering critical burns in a house fire on Chandler Street, Garbutt on July 12.

Tributes left at the scene of a house fire in Garbutt. Picture: GoFundMe
Tributes left at the scene of a house fire in Garbutt. Picture: GoFundMe

Family friend Lisa Barry said Seth’s mum had been left “broken” by the sudden tragedy and set up a GoFundMe campaign to help them pay for his funeral.

“Seth deserves a great funeral and no parent should have to bury their child,” she wrote.

Ben’s mother, Christie Stonehouse, said their family had also been left devastated in the aftermath.

House destroyed in Garbutt with two men taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
House destroyed in Garbutt with two men taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

She said Ben was a beautiful young man, who was deeply adored by his girlfriend Shelby.

“He was always there to help everyone. He always helped the underdog,” she said.

Ms Stonehouse said the double storey Garbutt home involved was hers and that all the smoke alarms had just been upgraded by her electrician.

Police previously said they were investigating the cause of the blaze and made an appealed to anyone with CCTV or dashcam vision to come forward.

A report is being prepared from the Coroner.

natasha.emeck@news.com.au

Originally published as Mourning friends and family farewell Seth Gillespie after Garbutt house fire

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/townsville/mourning-friends-and-family-farewell-seth-gillespie-after-garbutt-house-fire/news-story/a64cb38c3e3ccc3842bbe6a2773dc837