House fire survivor grateful for £2k in donations

Sarah Brown said sentimental items including graduation photos and keepsakes from her late parents were lost in the fire

A woman who was injured in a house fire that tore through her family home has thanked people for their support in helping her pay for irreplaceable possessions destroyed in the blaze.

Sarah Brown fled the fire in Port Erin with her dog and was airlifted to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.

The mother-of-three said sentimental items including graduation photos, keepsakes from her late parents, medals, her nan's art and her mother's collection of Manx books were lost in the fire.

But the artist said she had been taken aback by the kindness of strangers who have donated almost £2,000 to help.

The fire left the home badly damaged

The blaze broke out at her home in the Edremony estate on the afternoon of Friday 7 June.

Ms Brown said she was in her bedroom listening to a podcast when she smelled smoke.

Describing the ordeal, she said: "I went down to the front room and about two feet of flames were coming from the TV area.

"I damped a towel and threw it over it, but it got worse suddenly and the heat and black smoke was too much, so I went outside to get a breath and my brilliant neighbours phoned the fire service."

Concerned for her dog, Ms Brown went into the house and made another attempt to put out the fire while her dog managed to find its way out, before she was forced out once again by smoke.

Several pieces of Sarah Brown's artwork were also destroyed

She said shortly afterwards her TV "exploded" and the windows of her front room and son's bedroom blew out while she was being helped by neighbours. Thankfully none of her children were at home.

After being treated in hospital Ms Brown was released over the weekend.

She and her family are now waiting to learn from their housing authority whether they can find them a temporary home, while a fundraising page has attracted generous donations.

She thanked the public for their support, saying the response had been "incredible".