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BRAVE TOT'S BATTLE

Scots baby fights for life in coma & four dogs dead after fire destroys family home

A BABY is fighting for her life in hospital after a fire ripped through her family home.

Little Ellie Young, aged 14 months, suffered severe smoke inhalation in the blaze and was put in an induced coma by medics.

Little Ellie with parents Darren Young and Cara Lawtie in happier times
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Little Ellie with parents Darren Young and Cara Lawtie in happier times
Courageous Ellie Young is fighting for her life in hospital after a fire
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Courageous Ellie Young is fighting for her life in hospital after a fire
Darren Youn and Cara Lawtie with baby Ellie
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Darren Youn and Cara Lawtie with baby Ellie

Her parents Darren Young and Cara Lawtie, 29, woke up when the tot’s baby monitor started bleeping as their static caravan filled with smoke.

They fled in their bare feet but were unable to save their four dogs, or any belongings, as the flames raged out of control in Newmachar, Aberdeenshire.

Ellie was airlifted to hospital in Glasgow where her devastated mum and dad were at her bedside last night.

Farmer Darren, 38, said: “It’s a nightmare, an absolute nightmare. 

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“We've lost everything and all we've got left are the clothes we had on, which wasn't really much.

“Cara was in her pyjamas and I had my boxers and a pair of jeans that I managed to grab on my way out. That's all we had, no shoes. Nothing."

Family friend Gemma Nicol has launched a fundraiser which has so far taken in more than £11,000.

She said: “They are in hospital with Ellie fighting for her tiny little life. As you can imagine they are very traumatised and busy by her side.

“I can't imagine the worry and pain they must be going through losing everything and watching their little girl so helpless in a coma in a hospital bed.”

The fire started late on Monday night as the couple slept and quickly engulfed the car that was parked in front of the caravan.

Before firefighters arrived Darren battled to get their pets out of the caravan and attempted to stop the flames spreading to his tool shed.

He said: “We had four dogs, so I went back in, but this time the flames were coming out the doors.


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"I went back to get the dogs, but they never made it, they wouldn't come out.

"I ran up to the shed to get the fire extinguisher to try and put it out, but I was too late. It was all up in flames."

Darren was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and treated for smoke inhalation and burns.

He was released on Wednesday and headed to Glasgow to be with Cara at Ellie’s bedside at the city’s Queen Margaret Hospital.

Locals are donating clothes and other much-needed items to the coupe, as well as cash.

Cara thanked everyone. She said: “Anything to help us rebuild our lives will be massively appreciated.”

Darren added: “It's amazing what they're doing for us, absolutely amazing.

"We're just overwhelmed with how much folk are trying to help us. We're very grateful to everyone."

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances involved in the fire.

A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: “We were alerted at 10.44pm on Monday, March 7, to reports of a caravan fire at Newmachar.

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"Operations Control mobilised three appliances to the scene to extinguish the fire.

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“Two casualties were taken to hospital by paramedics. Firefighters left after making the area safe."

Donations to help Ellie and her parents can be made here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gemma-nicol

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