Three kids who died in East Ham house fire were ‘loved beyond words’, say parents

Three children who perished in a house fire in East Ham have been named as their heartbroken parents paid emotional tributes.

Muhammad Hanan Malik, seven, his 11-year-old sister Aayat and brother Nakash Malik, 13, were in the terraced home on Napier Road, East Ham just after 8.32am on Saturday, July 13.

One child was found dead in the property. Two others died in hospital, the Metropolitan Police said.

Another two members of the same family remain in hospital while a third has been discharged.

Their parents, Khurram Malik and Naumana Gul Khan, said of their children on Friday: “Your lives were a blessing, your memory a treasure.

“You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. May you rest in peace in God’s heaven.”

Officers continue to investigate the cause alongside London Fire Brigade colleagues.

At this stage, there is no evidence to indicate suspicious circumstances. Enquiries are ongoing.

Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Burks said the deaths of the children had caused “upset” in what was already a devastating incident for the local community and beyond.

He added: “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.

“I reiterate that we will do all we can, alongside the London Fire Brigade, the local authority and other partners, to provide the family and local community with support and answers to their questions.”

Neighbour and friend of the family Rida Nawaz, 28, said at the time: “We can’t believe this happened.

“There are no words to describe our feelings about them.

“My husband broke the upstairs window, I broke the front window.

“We just wanted to save them.”

Her husband Shah, 37, said he and other Napier Road residents threw bricks to try and break the windows, so the family could escape.

He went on: “Someone threw the big brick, the full brick, at the window but couldn’t break it.

“And the half brick, I hold in my hand, I threw it… to help the family because the mum – she was by the window.”

He added: “The dad, he came through the roof – after five, 10 minutes we saw on the corner the children came.

“We saw the police running up and using CPR, giving them CPR.”

Another neighbour described the mother of the two children who died in the housefire as a “very strong and motivated mum” and that she had saved her third child by sending her upstairs.

Sabah Waheed, 35, said they had known each other for 10 years.

She said: “She was a very strong lady, always looking after her children, very strong and motivated mum and this tragedy happened, I’m sure she must have tried her best to do something.

“She sent one child upstairs – she saved her life.

“But unfortunately, whatever happened three children were seriously burned.”

She continued: “This is a very big loss for the local community and it’s very sad news among the friends.”

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to the blaze.

Half of the first floor and half of the ground floor of a terraced house were damaged.

Members of the community embraced and cried as they gathered on the street outside where flowers were left in tribute.

Notes left with the flowers included one that read “so sorry for your terrible loss”.

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