Zac and Harley, three and four, were having a sleepover at their dad's caravan when an intense fire broke out. Shaun, 28, battled against the flames and grabbed what he thought was both of his boys out from the fire. While he was heading to safety, he looked down and saw he was holding only Harley's arm and leg. The scared dad ran to the van to save his youngest son but it was too late and the fire was too intense. "It wasn't until he was out of the caravan and going into the house carrying Harley that he realized it wasn't Zac, it was just Harley."
Dad Barged Into A Severely Burning Van To Save His Boys, Thought He Had Saved Both After Grabbing Two Limbs But He Only Rescued One
These two beautiful little boys were having a sleepover at their dad Shaun's caravan in Ffair Rhos, West Wales
These two boys, 3 and 4, were having a sleepover at their dad Shaun's caravan in Ffair Rhos, West Wales when the fire broke out.
The dad, who is 28, tried his best to save his boys, Zac and Harley Harvey. Shaun battled through severe smoke and grabbed what he thought were two arms and headed to safety.
The dad couldn't see anything in the flames, he thought he had rescued both his boys.
Unfortunately, when Shaun came out of the fire and was finally able to see, he looked down and saw himself holding only Harley's arm and leg.
The father's bravery saved Harley but the heartbroken dad was unable to save his youngest son
After saving his eldest son, Shaun, who was severely injured, tried to save Zac but it was too late and the fire was very intense.
The mother shared her story to the Real Fix podcast
Erin Harvey, 28, is the mother of the two boys. She revealed the heartbreaking plight to the Real Fix podcast, which helps people share their own stories.
Erin said: "Shaun had come out of the caravan and he was holding Harley's arm and leg."
"He thought that he was holding both Harley and Zac."
"It wasn't until he was out of the caravan and going into the house carrying Harley that he realized it wasn't Zac, it was just Harley."
The fire is believed to be accidental
The incident is being investigated by the authorities who believe this was accidental and not caused by any of the family.
The dad tried to go back to the van to save his other son, but the van was filled with flames from the intense fire.
Both the dad and the eldest son were rushed to the hospital in Aberystwyth.
The mother had a feeling Zac hadn't survived
Erin said: "I spoke to a nurse who told me that Shaun and Harley were there and to wait at home."
"I asked 'where is Zac' and she said she wasn't sure and the police were coming to speak to me."
"I just knew, I had a feeling."
#5 Police told Erin about their son's demise
The police arrived 40 minutes later and told the mother their son had died.
Erin said: "Even though I knew it from when I spoke to the nurse, it was still a shock to hear the words."
"I just fell to the ground, and was just shouting and screaming and then all of a sudden there were just all these questions."
Harley was in a coma and his chances of survival were slim
According to the doctors, Harley's chances of survival were slim due to the extensive burns he had and he was in a coma.
When the little boy woke up, he knew his brother had died
"He woke up and started trying to shout 'daddy'", she said.
"It was really hard, just know that he must have been so confused."
"It was quite likely that he said to me 'Zac's dead'."
Harley is being supported by all of his family
"Hearing doctors and police and grown-ups saying it was totally different to hearing Harley saying it."
Thankfully, Harley is recovering, he also returned to school for two afternoons before the lockdown.
Erin said: "I think he's even cheekier than he was before - he's just doing so well."
"He takes everything in his stride. He handles it much better than I could of myself."
"You think these things do happen, you just never think it'll happen to you," she said.