Stroud house fire: Police officer pays tribute to wife and children killed in Boxing Day blaze
A police officer whose wife and two young children died in a house fire on Boxing Day described them as “the three greatest people to ever grace our existence.”
Tom Shearman tried to save his family from their burning house in Brimscombe, Gloucestershire, but was stunned by the intensity of the fire.
His wife, Fionnghuala Shearman, known as Nu, died along with their seven-year-old daughter Eve, four-year-old son Ohner and the family dog Hutch.
Mr Shearman, an officer with Gloucestershire Police, was treated for injuries in hospital before being discharged.
His heartfelt memory was also shared by police and featured in a GoFundMe appeal that has raised more than £300,000 since its launch on Sunday.
“I stared at my keyboard for what seemed like an eternity, waiting for words to appear,” he wrote.
“There is no way I can thank any of you for the incredible, out-of-this-world generosity you showed me in my darkest hours.
“My life, the lives of my loved ones, my friends and the entire community changed the day after Christmas. Most importantly and tragically, the three greatest people to grace our existence were taken not just from me, but from all of us.
“I cannot express the pain and trauma of the events that followed Christmas 2025. The essence, the essence of my family, was ripped 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 will get better.
“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 the legacy of craft, design and survival of my incredibly talented, empathetic, compassionate and beautiful wife continues.
“I will also ensure that my bright spark Eve’s legacy of enjoying books and writing continues, as well as 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 from now on you will 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 sincerest 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 and light up the darkest corners and the darkest skies.
“Nu. Eve. Ohner. In memory of Hutch.”
Gloucestershire Police said that at the request of the family, flowers and condolence messages placed at the scene were transferred to Holy Trinity Church in Minchinhampton.
The family requested that other items be placed in the church instead of Brimscombe Hill.
At around 3am on Boxing Day, emergency services were called to the Cotswold stone cottage in the middle of the terrace.
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 unsuccessful.
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 fire is not being treated as suspicious.
The fire destroyed the roof, ceiling, and stairs, as well as causing other 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 www.gofundme.com/f/helping-rebuild-after-an-unimaginable-loss.
