Man dies and two are left fighting for life after a suspected arson attack destroys Gold Coast home
A man has died and two people have been rushed to hospital in critical condition after a suspected arson attack at a Gold Coast home.
Firefighters were called to a two-storey house on Sickle Avenue in Hope Island at about 11.35pm on Tuesday, a Queensland Fire Department spokesperson said.
When the five crews arrived, they found the home engulfed in flames.
A 38-year-old man was assessed by paramedics and declared dead at the scene, Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) said.
Police have confirmed to Daily Mail that the deceased man was believed to be the alleged offender.
Two men, 44 and 84, were taken to Royal Brisbane Hospital in a life-threatening condition after suffering burns to their head, chest, back, arms and legs.
A 59-year-old woman was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition, with back, hip and leg injuries.
Another man, 38, was evacuated from the home uninjured.
Firefighters were called to a two-storey house on Sickle Avenue in Hope Island at about 11.35pm on Tuesday where they found the property engulfed in flames
A man died at the scene and three occupants of the home were rushed to hospital
The blaze was brought under control within an hour and the spokesperson confirmed it was being treated as a suspected arson attack.
The house was extensively’ damaged by the fire, with one side of the building partially collapsed.
The fire also spread into the roof, with footage showing flames and smoke billowing from it.
A crime scene has been declared while police investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Investigations are ongoing and detectives are due at the home on Wednesday.
Neighbour David Da Silver said he saw smoke and five police cars near the home around 2am.
He said the street had been blocked off.
‘There was a lot of screaming (coming from the house in recent days),’ he told the Courier Mail.
‘It’s crazy.’
Police are appealing to anyone with information, or relevant CCTV, dashcam or other vision from the area around the time of the incident, to contact them.
More to come.
