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🇦🇺 Australia /Disasters & Emergencies

Husband says he should have died with his wife in house fire

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A man escaped a fatal house fire in Kingston, south of Brisbane, but his wife of 42 years died.
  • Leanne Gay Laver, 62, and family friend Phillip Gordon, 73, perished in the blaze.
  • The husband, who is partially paralyzed and relied on his wife for care, expressed deep grief and loss.

A man who survived a devastating house fire in Kingston, south of Brisbane, has spoken of his profound grief, stating he should have died alongside his wife of 42 years. Leanne Gay Laver, 62, and a family friend, Phillip Gordon, 73, lost their lives when the fire engulfed their Adelaide Street home on Tuesday afternoon.

She was right at the front door, I ran down for the hose thinking that she would be following.

— Ari LaverDescribing the moments before he and his wife were separated by the fire.

Ari Laver, who had rented the two-story home with his wife for 35 years, described the rapid spread of the fire. He recounted trying to retrieve a hose, believing his wife was behind him, only to be driven out by the intense flames. "When we realized the fire was right under the house, I tried to go back but I couldn't get back in," he said. The couple, who had three children, escaped with only their phone and in their underwear, a stark contrast to the life they had built together.

When we realised the fire was right under the house, I tried to go back but I couldn't get back in.

— Ari LaverExplaining his inability to return to rescue his wife.

Mr. Laver, who is partially paralyzed, spoke about his wife's role as his caregiver and her unwavering devotion. "For 42 years, [she was] the most faithful, loving, selfless, sacrificing woman… She was faithful beyond the extreme in every way that mattered," he said, his voice filled with sorrow. He also mourned the loss of Phillip Gordon, whom he considered a brother, having known him since he was 17.

For 42 years, [she was] the most faithful, loving, selfless, sacrificing woman … She was faithful beyond the extreme in every way that mattered.

— Ari LaverPraising his late wife's character and their long marriage.

Neighbours witnessed the fire's swift escalation. Tiffany Tinker reported smelling the smoke before hearing any alarms. "By the time I looked outside I saw the flames just engulfing the house next door," she said. Investigators are currently on the scene to determine the cause of the fire. The loss has left Mr. Laver contemplating his future, asking, "What am I going to do for my kids?"

I called him my brother in every way. I was an only child and he's all I knew of a brother. My parents loved him.

— Ari LaverRemembering the family friend who also died in the fire.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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