Wordsworth Avenue Sheffield: Son launches fundraiser for ‘caring’ mum and sister who ‘lost everything’ in fire

On March 21, a two-storey family home on Wordsworth Avenue, Parson Cross, went up in flames after an ‘explosion’ which was captured on CCTV. Police believe the incident to be arson.

Emergency services, including four fire engines, four ambulances and at least six police vehicles, arrived at the scene within minutes.

In the house at the time of the incident, which happened shortly before 9pm on Tuesday, was 47-year-old Helen, her daughter Destiny, six; Helen’s 42-year-old partner and a 17-year-old girl.

Lewis Dabell, 23, has set up a GoFundMe page to support his mum Helen and sister Destiny, who lost everything in the blaze – including their two pet dogs, Mia, a Japanese Akita, and Princess, an American Bully.

As the house went up in flames, Helen’s partner jumped from an upstairs window, breaking his leg in the fall. The girlfriend of Lewis’ brother also made it out of the burning building before she needed to be rescued.

Lewis said his “sweetest” little sister Destiny is “on a good road to recovery” in hospital, and Helen, who was the last to be rescued from the burning house, remains in intensive care after being placed into an induced coma.

Lewis said: “My mum and Destiny, they were the last two that were in there. The fire brigade managed to save Destiny's life, then my mum was in there for a little bit longer than everyone else and that's when the fire brigade managed to get my mum out last.

“My mum's only just woken up today. She told me that it was a lot - she told me her experience and what happened while she was in the house. It wasn’t nice to hear what she went through.

“Mum has to move home so she's basically starting from scratch with a little child. Everything was in that house. We’ve lived there since 2013-2014.

“My mum’s a very proud woman, she’s caring and never puts herself first or likes asking for help. But I know when she gets out it would be difficult for her to get furniture and clothes for Destiny and herself.”

A number of family friends have been rallying together and collecting donations for the family as they prepare to rebuild their life. Lewis added: “We're all very grateful for anything that anyone donates. All the support and the messages, I think that’s what matters the most to my mum and our family.”

The fundraiser reached over £450 of its £2,000 target in just five hours. To donate, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/helen-destiny.

If you have any information on the fire than can help South Yorkshire Police with their investigation into the house fire, this can be passed on via their online live chat, online portal or by calling 101 and quoting incident number 1,041 of March 21, 2023.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted on 0800 555111.