Heartbroken dad pays tribute to ‘wonderful family’ killed in Boxing Day fire | UK | News
Fionnghuala Shearman and the couple’s two children died in a house fire the next day. (Image: GLOUCESTERSHIRE Constabulary)
A police officer who lost his wife and two children in a fire at his home the day after Christmas paid tribute to them, remembering them as “the three greatest people who ever graced our existence.” Tom Shearman tried to save his family but was driven back by the ferocity of the fire which destroyed their home in Brimscombe, near Stroud, Gloucestershire.
His wife Fionnghuala Shearman, known as Nu, died along with their children Eve, seven and four-year-old Ohner, and the family dog Hutch. Gloucestershire Police officer Mr Shearman was taken to hospital for treatment but was later discharged. In a post shared by police, he paid tribute to his family in a GoFundMe appeal launched on Sunday that has raised more than £300,000 in donations. “There is no way I can thank any of you for the incredible, out-of-this-world generosity you showed me in my darkest moments. My life, the lives of my loved ones, my friends, and the entire community changed on Boxing Day. Most importantly and tragically, the three greatest people to grace our existence were taken not just from me, but from all of us.”
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The scene of a tragic house fire on Brimscombe Hill in Stroud, Gloucestershire, 29 December 2025. (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
“I cannot express the pain and trauma of the events that took place the day after 2025. The core, the essence of my family was torn away in the most violent way.
“While nothing can undo what has happened or make sense of the pain, I am humbled by what this page has done and continues to do beyond my ability to truly understand.”
Mr Shearman said his family and friends had “come together” to provide him with shelter, clothing and food, as well as “companionship and affection”.
He continued: “I’ll be fine. I’ve already started working on a plan that came to my mind just as I was falling off the edge of the cliff.
“I will ensure that my incredibly talented, empathetic, compassionate and beautiful wife’s legacy of craft, design and life creation continues.
“I will also ensure that my bright spark Eve’s legacy of enjoying books and writing continues, along with my incredible son’s sheer compassion and desire to help people.
“I thank each and every one of you for your donations. I will forever be in your debt and you will now forever be in my thoughts and prayers; I hope I can repay my debt in some way.
“Please, all of you, take every opportunity to hug your loved ones, tell them you love them. Because, as Paulo Coelho said, one day you will wake up and you will not have time to do the things you want. Do it now.
“My sincere thanks to the emergency services who tried everything to save my wonderful family. I hope they are all being cared for by their colleagues and friends. “Boxing Day was horrific for everyone involved.
“Now go light up the darkest corners and the blackest skies. In memory of Nu. Eve. Ohner. Hutch.”
Gloucestershire Police said the flowers and condolence messages placed at the scene were transported to Holy Trinity Church in Minchinhampton at the family’s request.
The family requested that more items be placed in the church rather than on Brimscombe Hill.
At around 3am on Boxing Day, emergency services were called to the stone cottage on the middle terrace of the Cotswold on Brimscombe Hill.
Mr. and Mrs. Shearman had woken up from the fire and tried to reach their child in the back bedroom.
Mr Shearman broke the bathroom window to gain access to the nursery from outside, but was unable to do so.
Due to the severity of the fire, Mr Shearman was unable to enter the house through the bathroom window and was unable to force open the ground floor doors.
Police believe the fire started on the ground floor and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause, but the incident is not being treated as suspicious.
The fire destroyed the roof, ceiling and stairs, as well as causing significant interior damage.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the bodies of the two children and the family dog had been recovered from the property.
The body of a woman in her late 30s was previously found.
Donations to the fundraising campaign can be made at: http://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-rebuild-after-an-unimaginable-loss.
