A police officer from Gloucestershire has issued a devastating tribute to his wife and two young children, who lost their lives in a horrific house fire on Boxing Day.
A Family's Life Changed Forever
In a statement shared by Gloucestershire Constabulary, Tom Shearman spoke of his unimaginable grief following the fire at the family's mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill in Stroud. The blaze broke out at around 3am on 26 December 2025.
Mr Shearman described his family as "three of the greatest humans to ever grace our presence". He revealed the profound impact of the tragedy, stating: "My life, the lives of my loved ones, my friends and the whole community changed on Boxing Day."
Details of the Tragic Incident
The bodies of his wife, Fionnghuala Shearman – known affectionately as Nu – and their children, Eve and Ohner, were discovered inside the property. The family's pet dog, Hutch, also perished.
Tom Shearman and his wife, who together ran a bespoke handbag manufacturing business, were awoken by the fire and desperately tried to reach their children in a rear bedroom. Mr Shearman attempted a rescue but was forced back by the intensity of the flames. He was taken to hospital for treatment but has since been discharged.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Nathaniel Hooton said firefighters battled extremely hard to enter the raging inferno. The fire caused catastrophic damage, destroying the roof, ceilings, and stairs, and inflicting other significant internal destruction.
Community Support and a Father's Pledge
Police confirmed the fire is believed to have started on the ground floor. Investigations into the exact cause are ongoing, but authorities are treating it as a "tragic accident" and do not consider it suspicious.
In the wake of the disaster, an online fundraising appeal set up for Mr Shearman has seen an overwhelming response, raising more than £300,000 from a supportive public.
In his emotional statement, Mr Shearman thanked people for their "unbelievable... generosity" and vowed to honour his family's legacy. "I will make sure my unbelievably talented, empathetic, compassionate and beautiful wife's legacy of craft, design and making lives on," he said.
He pledged to continue his daughter Eve's love of books and writing, and his son Ohner's compassion and desire to help others. He ended with a poignant plea, urging everyone to "hug your loved ones, tell them you love them", quoting author Paulo Coelho.
