A WA family who lost their youngest son in a house fire last Thursday have spoken of their grief, while pleading with the public for help.
Melissa and Matthew Mongoo’s 13-year-old son Nulla died and his 14-year-old brother Matt is still unconscious, fighting for his life in hospital.
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The Mongoo family home in Geraldton was destroyed in the blaze, and will soon be demolished.
The family has lost all their possessions but nothing compares with the loss of their “baby” boy.
Melissa Mongoo told 7NEWS she felt “like I was going to die” when she learned the smoke they could see in the distance was coming from their own home.
The loss of her youngest child has shattered the mother.
“That’s my baby,” she said through tears. “He’s gone.”
Nulla and Matt were caught inside when the fire broke out at the family’s home on Thursday.
A third boy, 13, also suffered significant burns, while a fourth boy of unknown age was found at a nearby property and treated for moderate burns.
Melissa had a gut feeling something was wrong as she and Matthew spotted smoke in the distance while driving home.
“I knew something was wrong because the boys didn’t answer (their phones),” Melissa said.
At the same time, emergency services were responding to reports of an explosion at the Mount Tarcoola property.
The three children were pulled from the fire and wrapped in cold towels.
They were then doused with water from garden hoses and placed in a neighbour’s shower until they could be transported to hospital.
When the parents arrived at home, they couldn’t get through.
Melissa jumped out of the car while Matthew found somewhere to park.
“I remember just running towards the house from down the road,” Melissa said.
“They (emergency services) stopped me.”
One of the police officers was a relative who helped get the parents to hospital to be with their sons.
Parents in agony
At Geraldton Hospital, the parents only saw their youngest son for the briefest of moments before he was flown to Perth.
Melissa rode alongside Nulla on the RFDS Mercy Flight. Seeing him in that state has deeply affected her, and is too traumatic for her to speak about.
Nulla died on Monday.
Every moment since has been agony, Melissa said.
“Yesterday I locked myself away because it’s just too much,” she said.
“It’s really hard,” Matthew said. “At the moment, we’re just confused.”
Nulla was a kind and caring young boy, his parents said.
He and Matt looked out for those around them, Melissa said, and wouldn’t stand for bullying or someone doing it tough.
“He was very generous and cared for his friends,” Matthew said.
Most of all, Nulla was absolutely beloved.
“He was a mummy’s boy,” Matthew said of his youngest son. “He was cheeky.”
The fire is still under investigation, but the Mongoos know their house is no longer home.
“There is no home,” Melissa said. “We have no home now.”
For now, Perth Children’s Hospital will remain home for Matt while he recovers.
The family said it is unbearable knowing that, even if Matt survives, he will wake up without his beloved little brother.
Matt is in a stable condition but his father said it’s “still touch and go”.
The family is dedicated to being by his side and will wait until he has recovered to organise a funeral and find a new home.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the family to help with costs, pleading for the public’s help to rebuild their lives.
Stop speculating
Melissa and Matthew also urged the public to stop speculating about the fire.
“We’ve got to worry about our other son, fighting for his life,” Matthew said.
“To read that sort of stuff and hear about it, it’s ridiculous.
“We haven’t even had time to mourn properly or to cry or anything.”
– with Ben Downie