Community mourns after Golinski house fire

Updated December 28, 2011 08:56:55

About 200 people gathered at a church on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Tuesday to mourn the deaths of the wife and three daughters of TV chef Matt Golinski.

Rachel Golinski and their daughters - Starlia, 13, and 12-year-old twins Sage and Willow - perished in a blaze that destroyed the family's home at Tewantin early on Boxing Day.

Matt Golinski remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital after suffering extensive burns while trying to save his family.

Many residents have been leaving flowers near the driveway as a mark of respect.

The local Anglican Church, located in the same street, has opened its doors to help residents cope with the tragedy.

"It's for people who want to come and talk and share their thoughts," said Reverend Mark Calder, rector of the Anglican Church of Noosa.

"There will be a few words of hope offered. It's an opportunity for people to get together and just talk and get some support."

The Golinski family were not members of the church, but were known and respected in the community.

Police have finished their on-site investigation of the fatal fire. They say the investigation is continuing but it appears the fire was not suspicious.

Golinski, 39, a local restaurateur who appears on TV show Ready Steady Cook, suffered burns to more than 40 per cent of his body.

He was taken to Nambour Hospital and was later flown to the Royal Brisbane Hospital for specialist treatment.

The fire were so intense it took emergency crews 90 minutes to bring the flames under control.

Neighbours reported hearing explosions and cries for help; some grabbed hoses, but there was little they could do.

Concerns have been raised that it took an ambulance almost 30 minutes to arrive at the scene.

But authorities say three Queensland Ambulance Service units in the Tewantin area were already responding to other cases.

Tags: residential, fires, disasters-and-accidents, tewantin-4565, qld, australia

First posted December 27, 2011 20:47:25

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-27/community-mourns-fatal-golinski-house-fire/3749092?site=sunshine&source=rss

big ten acc challenge scott disick kourtney kardashian kourtney kardashian lipitor lipitor kourtney kardashian pregnant again