Family targeted by arsonists

8:23am Tuesday 19th August 2008

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Arsonists are believed to be behind a blaze which almost claimed the lives of a young family.

Alex Melo, Maria Gonsalves and their 11-year-old daughter Anisha looked on in horror when their home turned into a smoke-filled coffin on Sunday night.

Quick-thinking Anisha managed to dial 999 as her parents fought to find a way out of their flat.

The family were eventually lifted to safety by firefighters.

They now have nothing but praise for the saviours who rescued them.

"They saved our lives by coming immediately," said Mr Melo.

Police confirmed they were investigating the fire, which is believed to have started in the stairwell of the flat in Gresham Close, Walcot, Swindon, at about 8.15pm.

Mr Melo, Mrs Gonsalves and their daughter had just returned from church when the smoke alarm in the hallway went off.

It was only when Mr Melo went to check that he realised there was heavy smoke in the stairwell.

"The smoke was there, it was burning and it was completely dark," said Mr Melo.

"We were scared and screaming and shouting."

Mrs Gonsalves added: "The smoke meant you couldn't breathe, we didn't know what was happening. We couldn't take the smoke, it was burning smoke."

The family went straight to the bathroom window, but realised it would be too dangerous to jump.

They tried Anisha's bedroom, with a garage roof to break the fall, but they could not release the catch on the window.

Having exhausted their possible exits they began to panic as smoke started to fill their flat.

Mrs Gonsalves said: "We didn't know what was going to happen, whether we were going to die or get out of the building, whether somebody would get us out.

"I was on the phone crying and screaming. I said please tell the fire brigade we have got a child here."

The operator kept the family talking on the phone and told them to open all the windows.

Fortunately Anisha had recently been to an information day at the Punjabi Centre with Drove Primary School.

"I remembered they told us to cover your head and don't inhale the smoke," she said.

It was also their brave daughter who first called 999 and spoke to the operator.

Firemen wearing breathing apparatus entered the house via the front door and helped the family out through the front window using a ladder.

"They did a very good job," said Mr Melo. "Everybody from the fire, the ambulance and the police were very helpful."

The family were taken to the Great Western Hospital where they were treated for mild smoke inhalation.

The family have been left traumatised by the experience.

"We all slept together in one room - my daughter said she was too scared to sleep," said Mrs Gonzales.

However, they believe if the gas box in the hall had caught fire they might not have been so lucky.

"God was in control," said Mr Melo. "The electric box never went and if it had the whole building would have been on fire."

An investigation is ongoing into the cause of the blaze. Anyone with any information should ring Swindon police on 0845 408 7000.