Fire that killed mother, two children and family dog caused by electrical appliances, inquest hears

A mother, her two children, and the family dog were killed after a fire believed to have been caused by electrical appliances engulfed their home on Boxing Day, an inquest heard.

Tom Shearman tried to rescue his family but was beaten back by the severity of the blaze that destroyed the house in Brimscombe, Gloucestershire, last year.

His wife Fionnghuala Shearman, known as Nu, died alongside their children Eve, seven, and four-year-old Ohner, and their pet dog Hutch.

An inquest at Gloucestershire Coroner's Court heard on Monday that the fire likely started in the living room, caused by electrical items that were connected to the mains power supply.

Emergency crews were called to the mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill at about 3am on 26 December 2025.

Detective Inspector Louise Missen, of Gloucestershire Police, told the inquest that Mr Shearman was alerted to the fire when he went to use the bathroom in the early hours of the morning and became aware of an "unusual warmth and a smoky atmosphere".

"He realised the house was on fire and shouted at Mrs Shearman to wake up and get the children," she said.

The inquest heard that Mr Shearman tried to reach the children in their bedroom by "striking and kicking" a window from outside the house but was unable to gain access.

Because of the severity of the blaze, Mr Shearman failed to regain entry through the bathroom window and could not force open the groundfloor doors.

When these efforts were to no avail, Mr Shearman decided "to prevent the further loss of life" and broke into a neighbouring property to alert the occupant to the fire and help her to leave.

The neighbour, called June, had spent Christmas morning with the family and had coffee and cake with them before the tragedy unfolded.

When emergency services arrived at the scene, Mr Shearman was found outside the property in a "very distressed state" and having sustained "quite significant injuries".

Leroy Hughes, station manager for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said the first call was received at 3.12am and that the house was "well alight" when crews arrived at the scene.

The fire destroyed the roof, the ceilings and stairs, as well as causing other significant internal damage to the building.

Mr Hughes said an investigation into the fire led him to believe it had started in the living room before spreading throughout the house, likely originating from "electrical devices connected to the domestic power supply".

He said surrounding items such as soft furnishings and the Christmas tree would likely have fuelled the flames and exacerbated the spread of the fire.

It was stressed that there was no evidence of third-party involvement in the incident or any suspicious circumstances.

During the hearing, senior coroner Katy Skerrett paid tribute to Mr Shearman's "valiant" attempts to save his family.

The cause of death for all three family members was given as "exposure to the combustion products of fire" and the coroner concluded they were accidental deaths, describing it as an "absolute tragedy with the most horrific consequences possible for this loving young family".

Mr Shearman, an officer with Gloucestershire Police, was taken to hospital for treatment but later discharged.

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Paying tribute to his family, he said previously: "My life, the lives of my loved ones, my friends and the whole community changed on Boxing Day.

"Most importantly, and tragically, three of the greatest humans to ever grace our presence were taken from not just me, but all of us.

"I cannot begin to describe the anguish and trauma of the events of Boxing Day 2025.

"My family had its very core, its very essence, ripped from it in the most violent way."

Mr Shearman added that he would "heal" as he vowed to ensure his late family's legacy would live on.

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