When Cara Lawtie and Darren Young see their daughter gleefully racing around their living room, they just know how lucky they all are to be there.
Less than a year ago, the family’s static caravan went up in flames while they were asleep in their beds – sending them fleeing into the night in nothing more than their pyjamas.
Little Ellie suffered smoke inhalation and was airlifted to hospital in Glasgow, where she was put in an induced coma.
Miss Lawtie and her fiance Mr Young kept a vigil by her bedside, knowing that her survival was the only thing that mattered – despite losing all their belongings and their four dogs, who perished in the blaze.
Thankfully, once she was woken from her coma the 14-month-old bounced back to her “cheeky self” quickly.
They are now settled in their new home in Newmachar and want to thank the community for raising £27,000 and donating clothes and toiletries to help them start afresh.
‘In 14 minutes our caravan was burnt to the ground’
But Miss Lawtie knows it could have all been so different.
The mum said: “We were all in our beds when it happened.
“You never expect to be standing at the end of your road in your pyjamas, barefoot, giving CPR to your daughter.”
Although Miss Lawtie is trained in CPR, and knows others who have taken on the training after hearing their story, she said: “It’s a great thing to know but I don’t think it will ever prepare you to do it on your own flesh and blood.”
While she was tending to their daughter, Mr Young, a contractor and farmer, was desperately trying to prevent the fire from spreading to their shed where he kept all his work tools.
“You have no time, the walls are like paper,” Miss Lawtie said. “In 14 minutes our caravan was burnt to the ground with everything inside it, it was gone, everything gone.
“The firemen said we’re lucky we got out because normally in a caravan fire, people don’t get out.”
The couple – who are now looking forward to getting married next month – are keen to raise awareness around static caravan fires to prevent other families from falling victim.
They are urging those living in one to make sure they have the correct CO2 and smoke detectors in place.
‘Wasn’t long until Ellie was back to her cheeky self’
Despite the trauma, Ellie has recovered well and both parents are relieved to know she will have no lasting damage – or memory – of that tragic night.
“We were really concerned when she woke up,” Miss Lawtie recalled. “Was she going to be a lot different, was she going to be brain damaged, was she going to be the same kid?
“But, when we got home she was racing about the living room. She’s always been such a happy kid and it wasn’t long at all until she was back to her cheeky self.”
Both Miss Lawtie and Mr Young admit they were terrified at the thought of taking Ellie off the machines helping her breathe but were amazed at how quickly she improved.
Last month, she turned two surrounded by family and loved ones after enjoying Christmas in the new family home.
Mr Young believes his family would not have been able to have a Christmas if the community hadn’t rallied around them.
Community effort ‘saved our backs’
Their friend Gemma Nicol and pub manager Fiona Bissett set up two fundraisers that raised £27,000 between them while the couple were in Glasgow to help the family get back on their feet.
Donations and well-wishes poured in from across the local community but also further afield, including Canada and Australia.
They also received donations of clothes, nappies, toiletries and even cots and changing tables.
“We are so grateful, we appreciate every donation so much,” Miss Lawtie said. “Whether it was money for the fundraiser or a bag of clothes, other folk dropped off nappies, toiletries, just everything, so many folk donated so much stuff.
“It’s unbelievable, it saved our backs really. All we can really do is thank everyone who did donate.”
The fundraiser helped them get back on their feet and they were able to replace some of their belongings.
‘We didn’t want Ellie growing up without them’
The family has also welcomed three pups to their home – two spaniels and a labrador, one of which is from the same bloodline as one of the dogs they lost to the blaze.
Mr Young grew up with dogs and it was important to them both that Ellie didn’t grow up without them.
He said: “We didn’t want Ellie growing up without them.
“I enjoy the outdoors and I enjoy seeing them working, it’s like a hobby. Even just when you go shooting and things like that standing there without dogs at your feet it’s just not worth it.
“It just didn’t feel right, it felt naked or something.”
Miss Lawtie agreed, saying: “It was a huge thing for us.
“They’re great family pets and they’re all very good with Ellie, she’d be lost without them.”
