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| Tributes paid to family who died in blaze at Welsh farmhouse | |
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| Tributes have poured in for a father who died alongside several of his children in a fire at a remote farmhouse in mid-Wales. | Tributes have poured in for a father who died alongside several of his children in a fire at a remote farmhouse in mid-Wales. |
| David Cuthbertson, 68, a builder, is believed to have been killed in the blaze at the property in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, together with several members of his family. | David Cuthbertson, 68, a builder, is believed to have been killed in the blaze at the property in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, together with several members of his family. |
| The flames were so fierce that investigators have not yet been able to confirm how many died in the fire, which is being treated as unexplained. | The flames were so fierce that investigators have not yet been able to confirm how many died in the fire, which is being treated as unexplained. |
| A team of fire and rescue dogs were on the scene on Tuesday as the investigation continued. | A team of fire and rescue dogs were on the scene on Tuesday as the investigation continued. |
| A neighbour raised the alarm shortly after midnight on Monday and three children, aged 13, 12, and 10, escaped unharmed, but police said a number of people were missing. | A neighbour raised the alarm shortly after midnight on Monday and three children, aged 13, 12, and 10, escaped unharmed, but police said a number of people were missing. |
| Flowers and tributes have been left near to the scene of the blaze and by lunchtime on Tuesday more than £4,000 had been donated for the family via a page on the JustGiving website. | Flowers and tributes have been left near to the scene of the blaze and by lunchtime on Tuesday more than £4,000 had been donated for the family via a page on the JustGiving website. |
| One floral tribute left at the scene said: “Such a terrible tragedy, special thoughts to family and friends.” | |
| Barry Smith, a family friend, wrote on Facebook: “I knew Dave for around 14 yrs … I can’t & won’t get over it … rest in peace Dave & all the little ones that died with you.” | |
| Ron Birchall, 73, who lives at the former Aberceiros Inn in the village, said: “He was a great father who loved his kids and doted on them. | |
| “We have been living here since 2002 and when we arrived he was living in a village a couple of miles away and then a year or so later he moved to the village. I used to see him walking around the village or in his vehicle. We saw the kids coming to pick up the bus to school.” | |
| Birchall said Cuthbertson was separated from his partner, who had moved away after suffering a stroke. | Birchall said Cuthbertson was separated from his partner, who had moved away after suffering a stroke. |
| County councillor Tim Van-Rees, who represents the area, described the community’s shock. “I knew the father and several of the children,” he said. “They were a large family, although I am not sure how many were living there. It is absolutely shocking and a devastating blow and it is possibly just as well we are in half-term at the moment because the effect on our children and the schools would have been very severe.” | County councillor Tim Van-Rees, who represents the area, described the community’s shock. “I knew the father and several of the children,” he said. “They were a large family, although I am not sure how many were living there. It is absolutely shocking and a devastating blow and it is possibly just as well we are in half-term at the moment because the effect on our children and the schools would have been very severe.” |
| Ch Supt Richard Lewis, of Dyfed Powys police, said the three children who escaped were being treated in hospital but did not have life-threatening injuries. “However, there are a number of people unaccounted for at this time and we can confirm that there are known to be fatalities,” he said. | Ch Supt Richard Lewis, of Dyfed Powys police, said the three children who escaped were being treated in hospital but did not have life-threatening injuries. “However, there are a number of people unaccounted for at this time and we can confirm that there are known to be fatalities,” he said. |
| “Specialist scientists and fire investigators are still assessing the scene and at this time we are treating the cause of the fire as unexplained. Due to the severity of damage at the scene, we are unable at this stage to identify any of the deceased or to confirm the number of deceased.” | “Specialist scientists and fire investigators are still assessing the scene and at this time we are treating the cause of the fire as unexplained. Due to the severity of damage at the scene, we are unable at this stage to identify any of the deceased or to confirm the number of deceased.” |
| The Welsh ambulance service said members of its hazardous area response team and four emergency ambulance crews attended, and 20 members of Brecon mountain rescue team helped search the surrounding area for casualties. | The Welsh ambulance service said members of its hazardous area response team and four emergency ambulance crews attended, and 20 members of Brecon mountain rescue team helped search the surrounding area for casualties. |
| The fundraising page is available at: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tragicfiredonation | The fundraising page is available at: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tragicfiredonation |