Horror twist as a mother found dead in a house fire is left with stab wounds in her stomach – while her two young children fight for their lives in hospital
- Mother found dead in rubble of house fire has been identified as Hayley Tomkins
- The award-winning pharmacist was found with stab wounds in her abdomen
- Her two children are fighting for their lives after suffering smoke inhalation
- Her father, Andrew Marshall, was not at home at the time of the deadly house fire
An award-winning pharmacist has been identified as the mother found in a horrific house fire that left her children fighting for their lives in intensive care.
Hayley Tomkins was discovered at 9pm Monday at her burning home in Mooroolbark, east Melbourne. Police revealed on Tuesday that she had stab wounds in her abdomen.
Rescue workers also found their 11-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter unconscious and suffering from severe smoke inhalation.
Pharmacist Hayley Tomkins (pictured, who received an award for her work at Eastern Health last year) has been identified as the mother of Melbourne, who was killed in a house fire in Mooroolbark on Monday
Paramedics attempted to treat Ms Tomkins but she tragically died at the scene.
The decorated mother was recognized for her work as a pharmacist at Eastern Health last year.
Both children were taken from the scene of the fire to the intensive care unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital, where they are in critical but stable condition.
Her father, Andrew Marshall, a local tennis coach at Pro Touch Tennis Academy, has stayed by her side since the nightmare fire.
It is understood Mr Marshall was teaching tennis at the time of the fire.
When he returned, he found his home surrounded by emergency services struggling to rescue his family from the burning two-story home.
Emergency services arrived at the home around 9pm Monday night and found Ms Tomkins and their two children inside (pictured: rescuers at the scene of the fire).
Ms Tomkins (above) was found with stab wounds to her stomach and treated at the scene but died tragically while her two unconscious children were taken to hospital from smoke inhalation
“He’s incredibly distressed,” a neighbor told Nine News.
“He had to run up the hill, there were only trucks down the road and around the corner.”
Witnesses said the two children were carried out of the house wrapped in blankets and initially treated on the front lawn while their devastated father looked on.
Alisha O’Brien, who was staying with a friend down the street, said she saw Mr Marshall screaming as his children were dragged from the house, believing they were dead.
“They carried out three bodies and they were completely lifeless,” she told the Herald Sun.
“When he saw her, he yelled ‘oh no!’
“He was in no way to be consoled, he was completely upset, in total shock and sadness.”
Husband and father Andrew Marshall (above) was reportedly not home at the time of the fire and returned to find his home full of emergency services trying to save his family
Police are still investigating the fire but said they are not looking for anyone at the moment (pictured, investigators at the scene of the fire on Tuesday)
Locals have visited the home to show respect to the mother and her family, leaving flowers in their driveway.
Police are still investigating the incident but are not looking for anyone at this time.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the police.
