Nine-year-old boy dies after Ayrshire house fire - The Guardian

A nine-year-old boy has died following a fire at a house in Ayrshire.

Evan Mohammed's 34-year-old mother, Sheree McGill, escaped the blaze before attempting to get into the house to rescue him and her other children, but was held back by neighbours.

The nine-year-old suffered severe smoke inhalation and died from his injuries. Two daughters, Yasmin, aged four, and Nya, three, were rescued and were said to be in a stable condition in hospital.

Fire crews were called to the end of terrace property in Altonhill Avenue, Kilmarnock, at around 3.20am on Tuesday.

They rescued the three children on the upper floor after fighting through thick acrid smoke to reach them. The youngsters were taken to Crosshouse hospital, in Kilmarnock.

His mother and the rest of the family were being comforted at their grandmother's house nearby.

Sheree McGill's sister, 31-year-old Lyndsay McGill, said the whole family were in "utter shock".

She said: "We just can't believe it. It's not sunk in. I've got children around the same age and they're all good friends. My sister is inconsolable. She doesn't know what to do with herself.

"We think the fire started in Evan's room. We think it was an electrical fault. He had a fibre-optic Christmas tree in there.

"Sheree tried to get back in when she realised her kids were still in there, but some of the neighbours held her back."

It is understood that the children's father, Saleem Mohammed, no longer lives in the house.

Shopkeeper Mohammed Anwar said Evan had been in his newsagents on Monday. He described him as a lovely boy and said he was always full of life.

The 46-year-old said: "It's tragic. The whole family come in here every day, and I just can't believe what has happened. They're always so friendly and nice and the kids are all lovely. The little boy was so cute."