Tuesday, 5th November 2024

Survivor shares tragic tale after Jamaica house fire killed 3 including twins

The inspiring journey of 13-year-old Laing was shared by Prime Minister Andrew Holness through his social media who called it ‘one of triumph over tragedy’.

Tuesday, 27th February 2024

Adrianna Laing with her father Adrian (PC - Facebook)
Jamaica: Adrianna Laing, who was severely burned in a tragic house fire shared her story of near-death experience. The fire took away her three brothers 9-year-old Adrianno and 7-year-old twins Jorden and Jayden, while she sustained third-degree burns in September last year. The tragic story of the 13-year-old Laing was shared by Prime Minister Andrew Holness through his social media who called it ‘one of triumph over tragedy’. He further added that it is a story of friendship and healing and he feels grateful that he got to share it with the world.

Adrianna said that her house was destroyed by fire by a candle which fell in the living room, lighting her brother’s clothes and three of them were perished in the fire.

Her recovery was defined as a ‘true miracle’ as doctors told her family that she only had 48 hours to live. The young female defied all odds and really recovered in record time after being airlifted to the US for emergency medical care. She had to undergo 18 life-saving operations in Georgia to get back on her feet. Laing still has severe burn marks on her body, including her face. While sharing her story, she said that she has not been coping very well but has her friends and family to help her along the way. The Member of Parliament for Western Westmoreland, Moreland Wilson also added to her story and said that the first port of call was to get some help to Adrianna and added, “We managed to do that and spoke to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.”

PM Holness offered the burn victim and her father with a HOPE house, which MP Wilson said is a fantastic program out of the Prime Minister’s Office and has helped several individuals who are in dire need.

The house provided by the Government of Jamaica costs around $9 million and is in the community of Slope, St Elizabeth. In addition to this, the Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green also attended the handover ceremony and said, “We are very grateful that despite the challenging circumstances we can share in a day like today, that is a day of hope.”

[embed]https://twitter.com/AndrewHolnessJM/status/1762274467747660208[/embed]

The father of Adrianna, Adrian was also very emotional and said that he will never forget that day and added, “I miss my boys every day, but god spared my daughter and she is here with me.”

He also thanked everyone who came on board just to provide the house, especially the Prime Minister and the members of Parliament.

It is to be noted that the HOPE program was introduced in 2018 and since then has delivered a total of 202 house, with 59 being actively constructed.