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A police officer’s wife and two young children boxing day house fire Describing them as “three of the greatest men of all time”.
Tom Shearman was overwhelmed by the flames as he tried to rescue his family from their burning home in Brimscombe, Gloucestershire.
his wife Finvara Sherman;known as Nu, died alongside their daughter Eve, seven, and son Ona, four, as well as the family dog Hutch.
Sherman, a police officer with Gloucestershire Police, was treated for his injuries in hospital and later released.
Police also paid heartfelt tributes to him and appeared on a GoFundMe appeal which has raised more than £300,000 since it was launched on Sunday.
“I stared at the keyboard, waiting for what seemed like an eternity for these words to appear,” he wrote.
“I can’t thank any of you enough for the incredible, unparalleled generosity you have shown me in my darkest hour.
“My life, the lives of my loved ones, my friends and the entire community changed on Boxing Day. Most importantly, and tragically, three of the greatest men were taken from not just me, but all of us.
“I cannot describe the pain and trauma caused by the events of Boxing Day 2025. The heart, the essence, of my family was ripped away from me in the most violent way.
“While nothing can undo what has happened, and there is no way to understand the pain, I am truly humbled beyond comprehension by what has happened and is being done on this page.”
Sherman said family and friends “rallied around” to provide him with housing, clothing and food as well as “companionship and sympathy.”
He continued: “I will heal.
“When I hit the deep end, I had a plan in motion.
“I will ensure that my talented, compassionate, compassionate and beautiful wife’s legacy of craftsmanship, design and making lives on.
“I will ensure that my Eve’s legacy of joy in books and writing lives on. And my incredible son’s pure compassion and desire to help others.
“I thank each and every one of you for your donation. I will be forever grateful to you and you will always be in my thoughts and prayers and hope I can reciprocate in some way.
“Please take every opportunity to hug the ones you love and tell them you love them. Because, as Paulo Coelho said, one day you wake up and you won’t have time to do the things you want to do. Do it now.”
“My heartfelt thanks go to the emergency services who did everything they could to save my wonderful family. I hope they are all being looked after by colleagues and friends. Boxing Day was horrific for everyone involved.
“Now go and light up the darkest corners and black skies.
“In memory of Nou Eve Ona Hatch.”
Gloucestershire Police said flowers and condolences placed at the scene had been moved to Holy Trinity Church in Minchinhampton at the request of the deceased’s family.
The family requested that more items be placed at the church instead of Brinscomb Hill.
Emergency services were called to the stone cottage on Terrace in the middle of the Cotswolds at around 3am on Boxing Day.
The Shermans were awakened by the fire and tried to save their children in the back bedroom.
Mr. Sherman broke the bathroom window and attempted to enter the child’s room from the outside, but was unsuccessful.
Due to the severity of the fire, Mr Sherman was unable to re-enter the house through the bathroom window or force open the ground floor door.
Police believe the fire started on the ground floor and are currently investigating to determine the cause, but are not treating it as suspicious.
The fire destroyed the roof, ceiling and stairs and caused other severe internal damage.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the bodies of two children and the family dog had been recovered from the house.
Earlier, the body of a woman in her 30s was found.
Donations to the fundraiser can be made at: www.gofundme.com/f/helping-rebuild-after-an-unimaginable-loss.