A 12-year-old boy died after a massive fire tore through a block of maisonettes in Lewisham, southeast London, with witnesses reporting seeing someone jump from a second-floor window as flames engulfed the building.
The schoolboy, named by his family as Fabian Henry, was pronounced dead at the scene despite frantic efforts by emergency services who responded to the blaze on Lewisham Road just before midnight on Tuesday.
Ten fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters battled the inferno that destroyed a maisonette split between the ground and first floors, with the fire brought under control at 2:02am – more than two hours after the first emergency call.
Desperate Escape Attempts
A local witness told The Mirror she saw a person jump from the second-floor apartment to the communal garden when the flames took hold. I saw relatives asking police if their family members had been found,” she said.
“One person jumped from the second floor into the communal garden area when everything caught fire,” the witness added, describing the chaotic scene as emergency services arrived.
Neighbors reported hearing “running, screaming and glass shattering” as the fire took hold. One resident told The Mirror: “We first heard people running and screaming around midnight, and then there was a series of loud noises that sounded like gunshots, followed by glass shattering.”
Mother’s Desperate Pleas
Witnesses described the heartbreaking scene as Fabian’s mother desperately sought help for her trapped son. According to Metro, neighbors heard the mother shouting “my boy, my boy, please help my boy” as emergency services tried to save his life.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police attended with the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service, but despite their efforts, Fabian was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
A 54-year-old woman, believed to be Fabian’s mother, was taken to hospital by paramedics. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. Three further people left the building before firefighters arrived at the scene.
Massive Emergency Response
Control Officers received the first of 14 emergency calls at 11:55pm, dispatching crews from Greenwich, Lewisham, Lee Green and surrounding fire stations. The London Fire Brigade deployed its Drone Team to provide the Incident Commander with an aerial view of the fire.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “A maisonette split between the ground and first floors was destroyed by the fire. Part of a maisonette split between the second and third floors was damaged by the fire along with a small part of the external fascia of the building.”
Pictures from the scene showed the extent of the damage at the flats with charred walls and broken windows left behind. Police cordons remained in place in the early hours of the morning as investigators began their work.
Tributes to ‘Talented’ Boy
Fabian’s family have paid tribute to the “talented” footballer who was a big Manchester United fan. His aunt, Suezette Edwards, told Metro: “He was a big Manchester United fan. His father had died from cancer. He was lovely.”
“The family wanted him to be a doctor. He was also very good at football. We are all heartbroken,” she added.
The schoolboy’s former primary school teacher, who visited the scene, said Fabian had a “great” heart and was a talented footballer who could play any position. “He was always the captain, always up for everything,” the teacher said.
“When he sees me he still gives me a big hug and says he scored yesterday. He was a pleasure to teach. I wish all kids were like him,” the teacher added.
Recent Family Tragedy
The tragedy is compounded by the fact that Fabian had recently lost his father to cancer. The father of his best friend, who visited the scene, told Metro that his son and Fabian had been on a school trip just hours before the fire.
They were going to meet up and play football today,” he said, adding: “The boy lost his father recently. My son only just found out about it on the way to school and he turned round and came home.”
Members of Fabian’s family visited the block of flats Wednesday morning where they reportedly read out tributes and looked at flowers left at the scene.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police, though it is not believed to be suspicious at this stage. Lewisham Road remains closed between Penrose Way and Lewisham Hill as investigations continue.
Detective Chief Inspector Danian Reid, from the Met’s local investigations team in south east London, said: “This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with everyone involved. We continue to work alongside investigators from the London Fire Brigade to establish the cause of the fire.
“We understand the impact this will have on the community and there will be local neighbourhood officers, and other emergency services, in the area as enquiries continue,” he added.
Community in Shock
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, with residents still being urged to avoid the area. Emergency housing support is being coordinated by Lewisham Council for those affected by the fire.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed they had sent multiple resources to the scene including ambulance crews, advanced paramedic practitioners, an incident response officer and members of their Hazardous Area Response Team.
“We treated one person who was discharged. Sadly, a boy was pronounced dead at the scene,” the spokesperson said.
The fire has been classified as a Level Two hazardous incident, with forensic officers expected to remain at the site throughout the day as the investigation continues into what caused this tragic blaze.
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