A child who survived a horrific housefire in western Sydney told rescuers “Dad tried to kill us”.
Emergency services were called to Freeman Street in Lalor Park about 1am on Sunday following reports of a house fire.
Police will allege Dean Heasman, 28, dragged some of his seven children back into the burning house and stopped emergency services from fighting the flames and saving the kids.
Heasman allegedly told firefighters to “let me die here”.
The young father, who was in a 10-year de facto relationship with Stacey Gammage, 29, the mother of his children, was allegedly responsible for lighting the fire.
Three of his young children died in the blaze – two boys aged, three and six, and a 10-month-old girl.
The four surviving children, three boys aged four, seven and eleven, and a nine-year-old girl, were treated at the scene before being taken to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition.
Their mother was also taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Sydney Morning Herald reported one of the boys allegedly told rescuers “Dad tried to kill us” as he emerged from the home alongside Heasman.
On Sunday, Detective Superintendent and NSW Homicide Squad Commander Daniel Doherty said the matter was being treated as a “domestic (violence) related multiple homicide”.
“At this stage it does appear the 28-year-old is responsible for multiple deaths of young lives that have been tragically taken away,” Supt Doherty said.
“We’re alleging the 28-year-old man took actions to prevent the young people inside being rescued.
“The 28-year-old man is currently in police guard at hospital, he is in an induced coma at the moment being treated for smoke inhalation and other medical issues related to the fire.”
NSW Police spokesperson Jason Pietruszka told media at a press conference the efforts of emergency services to gain access to the property were “frustrated” by the 28-year-old man.
A hero neighbour, who ran back into the burning house to rescue the children, Jarred Hawkins, allegedly fought off Heasman who wanted to hold them inside the house.
Mr Hawkins told media he panicked when he heard the children yelling.
“I heard a loud pop and sprinted over,” he said.
Mr Hawkins was wary speaking to the media, The Australian reported, and after being described as a hero, he responded by saying he “didn’t do it for that”.
Fellow neighbour Damien Dubois said he had awoken to the sound of windows cracking and gathered the kids into his yard with a blanket and recounted the moment the eldest boy came out of the house with his father.
“When he came over, he had burns on both hands and arms,” Mr Dubois said.
He heard the child tell rescuers: “He tried to kill me. I nearly died”.
Heasman remains in an induced coma in hospital after he was found to have suffered internal injuries from smoke inhalation.
Supt Doherty said an investigation would take some weeks to determine what happened, but it appeared the 28-year-old man was responsible for the multiple loss of young lives.
“We hope that the community come together and galvanise and help the family and the friends of the ones who lost their lives,” he said.
“There’s more good than bad in this world and people will come forward and help us … most people will come forward, do the right thing, we will get information.”
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.