Schoolboy, 12, dies in devastating fire that ripped through block of flats in middle of night – as family pay tribute

The Sun

09-07-2025

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy has died after a devastating blaze ripped through a block of flats late last night.
Ten fire engines and other emergency services scrambled to the scene in Lewisham, Southeast London, just before midnight after a fire at a block of maisonettes.
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Sadly, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, a 12-year-old boy died at the scene, confirmed the Met Police.
His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
The schoolboy, named locally as Fabian, was said to be a "lovely" lad and keen footballer who supported Manchester United, reports Metro.
His aunt told the outlet: "He was a big Manchester United fan. His father had died from cancer. He was lovely.
"The family wanted him to be a doctor. He was also very good at football. We are all heartbroken.
A woman, aged 54, was taken to hospital by paramedics but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, said cops.
Seventy firefighters were summoned to Orchard Gardens near Lewisham Road, after the control centre received 14 calls in relation to the blaze.
The fire engulfed part of a five-room maisonette split across the ground and first floors.
Control Officers received the first of 14 emergency calls at 11:55pm, dispatching crews from Greenwich, Lewisham, Lee Green and surrounding stations.
The incident was thankfully declared under control at 2:02am - more than two hours after it began.
Pictures from the scene showed the extent of the damage at the flats with charred walls and broken windows left behind.
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Cops were seen standing around a cordon in the early hours of the morning after the fire wreaked havoc.
Detective Chief Inspector Danian Reid, from the Met's local investigations team in south east London, said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with everyone involved.
'We continue to work alongside investigators from the London Fire Brigade to establish the cause of the fire.
'We understand the impact this will have on the community and there will be local neighbourhood officers, and other emergency services, in the area as enquiries continue."
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the London Fire Brigade but is not believed to be suspicious at this stage.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called at 11.56pm on Tuesday 8 July to reports of a fire in Lewisham Road, SE13,
'We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, advanced paramedic practitioners, an incident response officer and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
'We treated one person who was discharged. Sadly, a boy was pronounced dead at the scene.'