'We're lucky to be alive' - Manchester family left devastated after fridge explodes and burns down house

Nathan Abbott, 32, was at a fundraising event with his partner, Katie Craddock, 29, and their blind daughter Rebecca, 12, when they received a phone call from a friend that their house ablaze.

Their three-bedroom terraced home, on Old Road, Hyde, in Tameside, Greater Manchester, was completely destroyed by the inferno last weekend (Oct 25). Dramatic images show the devastation, which was caused by their Beko fridge freezer exploding, leaving the family with only the clothes on their backs.

The couple - who also have three other children, Emily, eight, Harley, seven, who is autistic, and Freddie, aged two - have been left 'devastated' by the fire. But they have revealed they feel they are 'lucky to be alive' as this was the first time ever all of them were out of the house.

Nathan, who works in a warehouse, said: "We are lucky to be alive, as we very rarely leave the house. One of us is normally in looking after the kids, so we got very lucky with the timing that we were at the fundraiser and our children were their grandparents.

“At the time it happened I'd normally be in the kitchen making dinner for Katie, and it would have been impossible to get everyone out. We have had the fridge for four years. We were using it to cook the kids dinner before we left, and it wasn't making any funny noises. I'm just happy everyone is safe as, but it will be a number of months until we will be able move back in."

Nathan had left the house at 5:45 pm and caught a taxi to the fundraiser at The Bridge Inn, in Stalybridge, Manchester, with Katie and Rebecca. Their three other children were at their grandparents' house. The couple said they were having a 'lovely time' until Katie received a call from a worried friend saying they there house was on fire.

Nathan said: "Katie's friend called saying she had just driven past the house and seen it ablaze with three fire engines outside with ladders up to the bedroom windows. We then jumped into a taxi which took us to the cordon at the top of the road. From were we were stood we could see it was ours."

Nathan revealed seeing his house on fire was "numbing". He said: "It was surreal, it was a horrific sight. It's one of those where you hear and read about these things happening and never expect it to happen to you. It was difficult to process everything, I was mortified and numb. We both just felt deflated as everything we have built was gone.

Though Nathan said their first thought was if their seven-year-old black Labrador, called Teddy, was okay as he was at home. He said: "When we arrived we saw her alive near a fire engine but were later told that she underwent 15 minutes of CPR to bring her back to life as they found her upstairs unconscious."

Nathan said the fire service told them the blaze was caused by their fridge which had exploded as their was no damage to the plug socket but the door was found "blown off". They said they are unsure what caused it to blow up.

In the following days the family have spent clearing the house of all their burnt possessions. Nathan said: "We've spent the last five days filling tips with our belongings. It has devastated us - the fire got into every room of the house, the kitchen, the living room, our bedrooms, the attic, the lot really.

"It has caused thousands of pounds in damage. The kids have lost their toys, their Xbox's, we lost our clothes, shoes, TV's - its heartbreaking. It is going to have to be stripped back before we can move back in. All we have left is a couple of family photo's, the dogs lead, and some paper work and that is about it which is depressing."

Nathan also said the kids Christmas present they bought it advanced were destroyed and their kids suprise trip to Disneyland in January will also be cancelled. Nathan and Katie are currently staying at a friends house whilst they figure out their next steps. Their four children are currently split between their grandparents' house.

The family are currently crowdfunding help them get back on their feet. You can donate here: https://gofund.me/bde74ae5d

Beko have been approached for a comment.