A mum who lost her young son in a caravan blaze says her other boy is making an incredible recovery – despite a slim chance of survival.
Erin Harvey, 28, lost three-year-old Zac Harvey in the tragic inferno earlier this year.
The fire ripped through the home of dad Shaun Harvey at around 5am during a weekend sleepover with his children.
Although unable to save Zac he managed to reach his other son Harley and rescue him.
Harley, four, was left in a critical condition following the horror blaze in Ffair Rhos near Pontrhydfendigaid, Wales.
He was given little chance of surviving his injuries and newly released photos from hospital show the extent of the ordeal he has gone through.
But mum has now revealed that he is making an “amazing” recovery – even attending school before lockdown.
Police say an investigation into the cause of the fire in the early hours of January 19 is still ongoing but it is not being treated as suspicious.
Erin said: “Zac was such a little ray of sunshine, always so happy and cheeky. Our home is very quiet now he’s gone.
“Harley and his brother Alex are coping well at the moment, and we’ve got support in place.
“It’s something that will never get any easier and our family will never be the same again.”
She described having nurses and doctors to help “around the clock” when Harley eventually left hospital, after around six weeks.
The boy was airlifted to Bristol Children’s Hospital after the fire, where he stayed until 25 February. He was home by the end of the month.
Erin added: “The first few weeks of adjusting to home life was hard, after having nurses and doctors to help around the clock to being on my own with Harley.
“It was worrying for me, but Harley adapted to the change well. We soon got into a routine of medications, baths, dressing changes and creams.
“He was in a wheelchair for the first few weeks but you wouldn’t even think it now. He’s definitely back to his active self.
“He still can’t do all the things he could before and needs help with things like eating and toilet trips.
“He doesn’t have full function of his left hand, but to our amazement he wiggled his fingers for the first time the other day.
“He’s definitely making progress.
“He had done two afternoons back in Pontrhydfendigaid School before lockdown happened, and he can’t wait until he can go back and see all his friends.
“The teachers have been a massive support to us and still continue to check in on us all via phone.
“We are waiting for an appointment with his consultant to discuss his next surgery in Morriston.
“It’s going to be a long road, but the way Harley takes it all and excels in every way possible makes it much easier on us all as a family.
“The staff at Morriston Burns Unit have been amazing. I would like to thank everyone who is supporting us along our journey.”
The tragic fire shocked the community in the remote village earlier this year.
Neighbours described the screams of devastated dad Shaun, 28, in the aftermath of the blaze.
One said: “Shaun was screaming: ‘My boy’s dead. My boy’s dead. I’ve killed my boy’.
“I was telling him that no one had killed anybody – but he was in such a state.”
Tree surgeon Shaun had been living in the two-berth caravan in his stepmother’s garden after breaking up with Erin the previous summer.
A fundraiser was launched by friends following the tragedy to raise money for the family.
The total currently stands at more than £11,000.
