Pictured: Boy, 3, and father, 51, killed in horror house fire

Pictured: Young boy, 3, and his father, 51, killed in horror house fire as family friends pay tribute to pair

• Naemat Lawa Esmael, 51, and his son, Muhammad Esmael, three, died in the fire 

Family friends have paid tribute to a father and his three-year-old son who were both killed in a house fire in Swansea.

Three-year-old Muhammad Esmael died in the blaze on Saturday.

Naemat Lawa Esmael, 51, died on Monday morning in hospital where he had been in a critical condition, South Wales Police confirmed.

Mum Sharmeen Ahmed, 39, and a 13-year-old girl were also being treated in hospital for smoke inhalation after the blaze. The family’s other son was not at home at the time.

Family friend Claire Mitchell set up a gofundme page for the family called ‘Support West Cross family after devastating fire’, which has so far raised more than £16,000.

Three-year-old Muhammad Esmael died at the scene of the blaze on Saturday

Naemat Lawa Esmael, 51, died on Monday morning in hospital where he had been in a critical condition, South Wales Police confirmed

The family’s house following the fire, with a fire brigade jacket hanging over a fence 

One of Ms Mitchell’s friends lived opposite the family in Gonhill, West Cross, and described the fire to her.

Ms Mitchell said: ‘The air show was on that weekend on the Saturday, the first plane – the Typhoon – went over and was very loud.

‘Then she said she just heard a bang, and she thought it was part of the air show. Then she heard screaming, and then after that point it was blurry.

‘People running around trying to help. That’s all she heard, a bang, then flames and smoke.’

Videos posted online showed little Muhammad playing with a hairdryer at his home and dad Naemat stood proudly outside his greengrocer shop.

One tribute said: ‘May their souls rest in peace.’

Another said: ‘May Allah forgive them and grant them paradise.’

A spokesman for Whitestone Primary School said: ‘All of us are devastated to hear that one of our nursery pupils, Muhammad Esmael, as well as his father, has tragically died. 

‘Our thoughts are with their family and friends and we offer our sincere and deepest condolences.’

The spokesman added: ‘Muhammad was a popular, well-loved little boy who was settling in well to school life and making many friends. 

Videos posted online showed little Muhammad playing with a hairdryer at his home and dad Naemat stood proudly outside his greengrocer shop

Emergency services at the scene of the fire in Wales, in which a man and his toddler son were killed

‘We are a very close and caring school community and this will be a difficult time for us all, so support is being put in place for any pupil or staff member that needs it.’

South Wales Police said its investigations are ongoing and they are working with South Wales Fire and Rescue to establish the cause of the fire.

Detective Inspector Carl Price said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the family, friends and the local community following this tragic incident.

‘We are working alongside the fire service to establish the cause of the fire.’

Swansea council leader Rob Stewart described the incident as ‘tragic’.

‘Our thoughts, condolences and sympathies are with the family and friends at this very difficult time,’ he wrote on Facebook.

He said the council would assist those affected by the fire, adding a number of community initiatives had been set up to support people.

Local councillor Rebecca Fogarty said: ‘It’s everybody’s worst nightmare losing a child. 

‘Where the incident has taken place there are families who have lived there for generations and there is a real sense of people pulling together when things like this happen.’

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