Shock as stuntwoman Deirdre Naughton and her daughter die in farmhouse blaze

Details of a fire victim’s final days have been revealed, with the 10-year-old killed along with her stuntwoman mother in Tallarook.

Renowned Australian stuntwoman Deirdre Naughton died in a house fire with her daughter, Leela, in Tallarook.

The devastated parents of a stuntwoman who died with her daughter in a house fire tragedy say they “will miss them every day of our lives”.

Deirdre Naughton, 42, and her 10-year-old daughter Leela died when their Tallarook home on Tallarook-Pyalong Rd went up in flames around 11pm Sunday evening.

Firefighters were unable to save the home or the mum and daughter.

Ms Naughton’s parents, Rachel and Phillip Naughton, said they were “absolutely devastated” by the loss of their daughter and granddaughter.

Deirdre Naughton with her partner Clint Dodd and daughter Leela. Supplied

Deirdre Naughton has been remembered as a “loyal, dependable person”.

Leela Naughton, 10, was “very much her mother’s daughter”.

“Deirdre was a very strong, hardworking, loyal, dependable person, you could always rely on her,” the parent said in a statement to the Herald Sun.

“Leela was a very energetic child, very much her mother’s daughter. She loved to dance and sing. She was good at maths and English.

“Leela loved living on the farm. It was her job to feed all the animals – the ducks, geese, chickens and horse, and let them out in the morning before school and locking them up in the evening.

“Leela’s cousins are devastated. They shared many holidays – and only last week Leela stayed with her cousins for the school holidays.”

“We will miss them every day of our lives.”

Stuntwoman Deirdre Naughton.

Deirdre Naughton was heavily involved in the film and stunt industry.

Ms Naughton was a champion of women in the stunt industry and appeared in Hollywood films including I, Frankenstein as well as Australian dramas such as Neighbours, McLeod’s Daughters, Informer 3838 and Stingers.

The stuntwoman and her partner, Clint Dodd, were both heavily involved in the film and stunt industry, especially special effects and pyrotechnics.

Mr Dodd was interstate at the time of the blaze and made a dash home on Monday.

The Herald Sun understands arson squad detectives have ruled out any links between the blaze and pyrotechnic equipment at the property, with an electrical fault in the main living area believed to have started the inferno.

Grieving friend, Jade Gonzalez, said Ms Naughton was a devoted mother with a “beautiful soul”.

Deirdre Naughton in the Waterworld live show in Osaka, Japan.

She said: “They were a really chill family … kind and mindful.”

Ms Gonzalez said Leela, who had attended Tallarook Primary School, loved animals and nature.

“Leela was adorable. She loved horses and country life,” she said.

The double fatal tragedy has rocked the community of Tallarook, 90km north of Melbourne.

On Tuesday evening, a town gathering was held to support friends, family, neighbours and emergency responders who were affected by the tragedy.

Ms Naughton’s former agent, Vicki Marks of Action Stunts Australia, said the stuntwoman was “one in a million” and had travelled the globe for her career.

“Deidre was a great champion of women in the stunt world,” Ms Marks said.

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Originally published as Shock as stuntwoman Deirdre Naughton and her daughter die in farmhouse blaze