Fire tragedy parents speak of loss

Stephani Wojak, 15 and her foster brother Ben Mcauliffe, eight, died after they were trapped in their bedrooms as a fire tore through their house in Ellacombe Church Road, Torquay, Devon, on Saturday morning.

Their parents Michael and Gill Wojak were rescued by neighbours who used ladders to climb up to drag them out of their bedroom window. Their other son Ricky Wojak, 20, escaped from the burning house.

Mr and Mrs Wojak said in a statement: "We have lost two beautiful, loving children and it has just hit us watching other parents taking their kids to school that a normal Monday morning will never happen again.

"And we will never walk them to school again. We would like to thank everyone for their kind words, flowers and messages left at the house."

Devon and Cornwall Police said yesterday that the children died after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest as a result of smoke inhalation.

Detectives working with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue have ruled out arson and say the fire was a tragic accident but are still trying to establish the cause.

Ben, who was fostered by Mr and Mrs Wojak seven-and-a-half years ago, had autism and severe learning difficulties.

A growing number of flowers, cards, candles and toys have been placed outside the house.

Friends of Stephani along with the headteacher of her school paid tribute to a "bubbly, lively and smiling" girl. Ben was described as "a happy little soul" by one neighbour.