More than £13,000 raised following fire that destroyed family cottage

A community fundraiser has collected more than 13,000 to assist a family whose cottage in East Sussex was completely destroyed by a fire. Olly Room and his sons discovered their Nutley home engulfed in flames last Friday, prompting the response of 10 fire engines.

The fundraising effort, organized by local resident Eva-Amihan Nielsen, aims to support the family with temporary housing, veterinary care for two dogs injured in the blaze, and replacement of furniture, clothing, and other essential belongings.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex on Wednesday, Olly expressed gratitude for the generosity shown by strangers, sharing how a man helped cover his shopping just a day after the incident. He reflected, "For every terrible story in the news, there are countless acts of kindness that often go unnoticed."

Two of the familys dogs remain in critical condition at a veterinary clinic in Crawley after Olly bravely rescued and revived them from the fire, while sadly two other pets did not survive.

Ms. Nielsen emphasized, "The fundraising is just the beginning. The family faces rebuilding their lives from scratch. This has been incredibly traumatic, and they are heartbroken over the loss of their home and animals."

Author: Jackson Miller