Nine-year-old girl dead and 11-year-old critical in blaze which also kills man
A nine-year-old girl has died and an 11-year-old girl is in a critical condition after a fire which also claimed the life of a man.
The pair died after the blaze broke out in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, on Sunday, police said.
Medics tried to save the man's life but he died at the scene on Russell Close and the young girl was taken to hospital but died later that day.
The 11-year-old girl was also taken to hospital, where she remains.
Det Insp Paul Greatorex, of West Yorkshire Police, said: 'We are continuing to work with colleagues at the fire service to investigate this dreadfully sad incident which has resulted in a father and daughter losing their lives.
'Extensive inquiries have been ongoing since yesterday and we have been working to locate and support relatives of the victims both here and outside of the UK at what is clearly an awful time for the family.
'While our inquiries remain ongoing, we do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances regarding the cause of the fire and will be preparing a file for the coroner in due course.
'Our support for the family involved clearly also still continues.'
Councillor Ali Arshad, who represents Heckmondwike on Kirklees Council as a member of the Kirklees Community Independents Group, said he had asked the community, which he described as 'close-knit', not to speculate.
He said: 'There's been no speculation. Everybody has respected the wishes of the family.'
He said the family of the victims were 'absolutely amazing people', adding: 'They keep themselves to themselves and are always cheery and willing to help.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
22 minutes ago
- Telegraph
I would normally stand with our police, but they've made it almost impossible
Does your heart bleed for our poor put-upon police, as they warn that their service is in 'crisis'? Or hearing of their plight, do you feel like giving them a shake? In a slight variation on the annual moan-fest that is the Police Federation conference, senior representatives of the service have penned a joint article listing their many woes. With dismal absence of originality, they complain of 'crushed' morale and thinning blue lines, as underpaid, overworked officers jack it all for early retirement to the Costas. As the Spending Review looms, behold the usual desperate attempt to guilt trip ministers into ponying up more cash. Those of us who grew up with kindly constables coming to school to talk about 'stranger danger' and the Green Cross Code yearn for the heroes of our youth. They were the human barrier between good and evil, fighting the good fight against robbers and child snatchers. How we used to look up to them and take comfort from their solid, reassuring presence on our streets. Wouldn't it be nice to experience such pure, uncomplicated feelings of admiration about the police today? The trouble is they just keep letting us down, behaving in ways that are spineless and foolish, and going after all the wrong people in all wrong ways. Modern training appears to prohibit any exercise of discretion or common sense, in favour of moronic tick box responses and rainbow coloured cars. I am reminded of this every Friday morning, when swarms of officers descend on the Embankment in central London in search of the odd trucker who might not have the right paperwork. With the luxury of crime free streets and unlimited resources this dreary weekly exercise might be worthwhile, but as dope heads, muggers and petty thieves do their worst all around, it is a very curious priority. Of course there are still good guys who are horrified by the systematic misallocation of resources. They cringe at the pursuit of totally inconsequential 'hate crimes' and even more ridiculous 'non hate crime incidents'. Still valiantly trying to catch real criminals, they were appalled by the diminishment of their roles during the pandemic, when they were forced to police petty lockdown breaches. Old pros have no difficulty understanding that flimsy complaints about unpleasant Tweets rarely require a siren-wailing response, and that having black or brown skin should never provide an exemption from the law. Tragically, these stalwarts can no longer rely on either the support or sound judgement of their bosses, who have a nasty habit of punishing bravery and initiative. Just ask poor Stg Martyn Blake, who put his life on the line in pursuit of a man with previous convictions and gangland associations – and found himself charged with murder. Having been cleared by the courts, he now faces an investigation for 'gross misconduct.' Then there's PC Lorne Castle, sacked by Dorset Police for failing to treat a knife-wielding teenager with sufficient 'respect.' The way these decent officers and others are make split second decisions in life threatening situations are treated beggars belief. Then again, some plods deserve everything they get. Witness the grotesque cowardice of the officers who allegedly tasered a confused one-legged nonagenarian after he refused orders to put down a butter knife. In that single inexplicable act, these cruel clowns brought their entire profession into disrepute. Remember all this, as they beg the Government for bigger budgets. Sorry, but I'm struggling to find my violin.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Worcestershire study finds more than half of runners face abuse
"Honking of horns and shouting out the windows is something that I receive on 50% of the runs I go on. And I go about four times a week."As a woman who regularly exercises outside, Vicky Addis, from Hagley, Worcestershire, said harassment was something she had come to expect when out comes as the results of new research into the abuse faced by runners in the county are than half the respondents in the study, the vast majority women, said they face or had faced harassment during their exercise sessions. "Men of all ages shouting sexualised comments about their bodies, about the way they're running, about the clothing that they're wearing," said Dr Claire McLoone-Richards from the University of Worcester, who is leading the Running Free, Running Safe study."A number of women described actually resorting to going the gym and running on a treadmill or, in one instance, buying a treadmill to run at home because they felt so fearful."Leah Henney runs regularly in Worcester, but no longer exercises outside in the winter months because the sexual harassment is so frequent."You get whistled at, you get comments about your body, asking you to slow down," she explained. "When I turn around on a route and come back, I dread that they're still going to be there."Dr McLoone-Richards said although most of those who reported problems were women, men were not immune, with their abuse often based around anti-social behaviour."Some of our male runners were describing having empty beer cans thrown at them from a passing car, or dogs or cyclists throwing them off the running track," she explained. Matt Sears, from Worcester, said he was used to getting abuse from dog walkers, but had seen the harassment women face when running in mixed groups."Even when there's men with them, they still get drivers wolf-whistling or going, 'Alright darling?', he said. "They laugh it off, they're used to it, but it's become the norm, unfortunately.""It feels like it's a normal thing to happen, and it absolutely shouldn't be," agreed Ms McLoone-Richards said only four people in the study had reported incidents of harassment to were worried about wasting police time because the abuse was not serious enough."We want to encourage our running communities... to report this concern because I'm pretty sure that our police service will take this seriously," she Henney said learning that most people had, like her, never contacted the police might encourage her to do so."While [these incidents] might seem small to others, they are affecting a big community," she said."It's not just women, it's men too, and it's not nice." The Running Free, Running Safe study is now undertaking research in to the experiences of runners during the lighter summer months. Anyone who would like to help can fill in an anonymous survey. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Man arrested over 'potentially hazardous materials' in Aberdeen
A 33-year-old man has been arrested following the discovery of potentially hazardous materials in had executed a warrant at a property on Cadenhead Place, in the Kittybrewster area of the city, at about 08:30. Emergency services attended and chemical items were said there was no risk to the wider public and added that inquiries were ongoing.
