Teenage boy found dead in Doncaster shed fire

  • Published
Media caption,

Police investigators at scene of fire death in a shed near Doncaster

A 13-year-old boy has been found dead after a fire in a shed in South Yorkshire.

The teenager, named locally as Jack Sheldon, was discovered at a property on Byron Avenue in Campsall, near Doncaster, on Thursday evening.

Police said the boy was found as the blaze was being put out.

A joint investigation between South Yorkshire fire service and police is under way to establish the cause of the fire.

Jack's great-grandmother Irene Bennett said: "All I know is that he burnt to death in a shed."

Image source, PA
Image caption,

Neighbours tried to tackle the fire

Investigators with sniffer dogs are searching the semi-detached house and the garden has been screened off.

Neighbours attempted to tackle the blaze as emergency calls were made to the property at about 20:30 BST, the fire service said.

Simon Dunker, from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service, said: "On arrival we found a shed well alight and proceeded to extinguish the fire. At that time is when we discovered there had been a fatality within the shed."

Floral tributes have been left outside the property. One read: "We all loved Jack, he was a great lad. We're going to miss him."

Another said: "RIP Jack, gone but not forgotten. Can't believe it was only yesterday that I saw you."

Ed Miliband, former Labour Party leader and Doncaster North MP, has tweeted, external: "All my thoughts with his family".

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones said she was "deeply saddened to hear of the death" and his "thoughts and prayers are with his family".

A formal identification of the body is yet to take place and the investigation is not expected to finish until Saturday at the earliest, the fire service said.

Image source, PA
Image source, PA
Image source, PA

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