News

Four-year-old boy dies after Wigan house fire that also killed his father

The most heartbreaking update.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 17th April 2024

A four-year-old boy has tragically passed away several days after a horrific house fire in Wigan.

His 45-year-old dad also died from his injuries on the day of the blaze, at around 2.30am on Sunday 14 April.

The young boy was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, but died in hospital earlier today.

Four other people received treatment following the house fire on Warrington Road at the weekend.

Local authorities do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances involved in the incident.

ADVERTISEMENT

And Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue are continuing to investigate the causes of the fire and are in regular contact with officers.

A GoFundMe page set up to support the family has named the father and son as Barry and Ethan Mason.

ADVERTISEMENT

Prior to Ethan’s death, it said: “Hello, my name is Jessica. Yesterday morning at around 1am my sister’s house went up in flames.

“Devastatingly we lost my brother in law and my beautiful little nephew has suffered over 86% burns to his body.

“The last thing this man did was to run back into a burning house and save his little boy.”

ADVERTISEMENT

It then detailed that Ethan had spent a long time in surgery and been placed in an induced coma, and was given only a 10% chance of survival. Tragically, he did not make it.

The GoFundMe continued: “We are all absolutely heartbroken, but my sister and her other children have lost absolutely everything.

“I have set up this go fund me to not only help with funeral costs but to help with clothing and other necessities for her other babies, and to help with the financial burden my sister will have to cope with on top of losing her husband and having her baby in hospital for god knows how long.

“Anything you can donate will be massively appreciated. Thankyou for reading and Love to all.

“Hold your babies a little bit tighter because you just never know.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The GoFundMe has already raised more than £33,000, at the time of writing.

Detective Inspector Lee Gridley, from GMP’s Wigan district, said: “This is a devastating incident and all of our thoughts are with the family of this young boy, who had his entire life ahead of him.

“Together with the earlier death, this is a tragedy for the Wigan community and I know that many people will be shocked by this heartbreaking news.

“I hope people will join us in sending their absolute best wishes to all those involved in this incident, as they begin their journey in the healing process.

“While we are not treating the incident as suspicious, if anyone has any information they believe is important, please do get in touch with us. You can do this by calling police on 101, quoting log 393 of 14/04/2024.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The family have asked for their privacy as they come to terms with their loss, and have asked for people to respect their grieving process.

Read more

Featured image: GoFundMe

News

Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street

An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.

Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.

Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.

Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.

He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.

Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.

“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.

“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”

If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.

Read more

Featured image: Google Maps

News

Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.

UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.

The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.

Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.

To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.

Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.

“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.

“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”

Read more:

Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.

Featured Image – Laughterama (Supplied)

More News

Damo restaurant Altrincham tribute regular customer Haroon death

Eats

Altrincham restaurant pays touching tribute to beloved regular after tragic passing

Boroughs

Life-saving defibrillators to be installed on dozens of trains travelling through Greater Manchester

City Centre

One of Manchester’s oldest surviving Victorian mills to be repurposed into ‘distinctive’ rental homes

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches