A 14-month-old baby is in intensive care after her family’s home was destroyed in a fire.
Darren Young and Cara Lawtie woke up on Monday night when their baby monitor started beeping, and quickly realised their static caravan was full of smoke.
The couple, who are parents to baby Ellie, managed to flee but their four dogs perished in the blaze.
Mr Young, a farmer and contractor, tried to battle the flames and stop them from spreading to the shed where he keeps his tractors and work tools.
The 38-year-old was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with smoke inhalation and severe burns.
Meanwhile, his daughter was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where she was put in an induced coma early on Tuesday morning due to smoke inhalation. Her mum, 29, is at her side in the intensive care unit.
Now the local community in Newmachar has rallied round to support them following the fire, with thousands donated to a fundraiser in just a few hours.
“It’s a nightmare, an absolute nightmare, ” Mr Young said.
‘We’ve lost everything in fire’
He added: “We’ve lost everything, all we’ve got is the clothes we had on, which wasn’t really much. Cara had her pajamas and I had my boxers and a pair of jeans I managed to grab on my way out.
“That’s all we had, no shoes, nothing.”
Mr Young described trying to go back into the caravan for their beloved dogs, but the flames were too much.
“We had four dogs, so I went back in but this time the flames were coming out the doors. I went back to get the dogs, but they never made it, they wouldn’t come out.
“I ran up to the shed to get the fire extinguisher to try put it out – but I was too late, it was all up in flames.”
Their car which was parked in front of the caravan was destroyed in the flames.
Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire.
Couple amazed by Newmachar community’s ‘unreal’ effort
A JustGiving page was launched yesterday for the family with a goal of £500, but has already hit about £9,000.
Gemma Nicol, who set up the fundraiser, wrote: “In such a traumatic, frantic, heartbreaking time possessions are the last thing on their minds but I thought a little whip-round to help them replace some clothes and toys, everything basically, might be helpful once they get out and rehomed.”
Mr Young and his fiance were “overwhelmed” to find out about the gesture and described the support as “unreal”.
Mr Young said: “It’s amazing what they’re doing for us, absolutely amazing.
“We’re just overwhelmed with how much folk are trying to help us. We’re very grateful to everyone.”
Mr Young was discharged from the hospital yesterday and will be heading to join his fiance and daughter in Glasgow today.
Donations can be made to support the fire fundraiser for the Newmachar family HERE
