A Northern Ireland mum has spoken of her devastation after she watched her home being destroyed in a fire.
Nina McLaughlin, from Coleraine, left her home on Saturday night with her three children to visit her parents in Portstewart. Less than one hour later, she received a phone call from a neighbour to say her house was on fire .
Rushing back home, Nina was met with a scene of "sheer destruction" as four fire engines worked to put the fire out. She watched as her home of 16 years was being taken away from her.
READ MORE: NI mum devastated as family left homeless after house fire
Speaking to Belfast Live, Nina, who is a single parent, said she was shopping around for home insurance at the time of the fire. Her insurance had lapsed on July 4, says before the fire - they still are unsure of the cause.
"I had absolutely no idea the lengths and depths firefighters will go to in these circumstances, some of these people were volunteers and were absolutely amazing and I will be eternally grateful for them," she said.
"After the fire was out they started bringing out some of my belongings such as important documents, many photographs and salvageable furniture and one of the family pets. My best friend of 30+ years set up a Go Fund Me page - I am single parent on a minimum wage I simply couldn't afford to insure my home and was shopping around for a better deal.
"Like many others it slipped my mind to find anything else, it is my fault I know but I am literally on my hands and knees begging anyone and everyone for help in this terrible situation. My children and I are safe but we have lost our family home and there is no place like home.
"Right now my head is spinning and I feel like I can't see the shore for the waves. I live in a constant fear of what will I do. I have a fantastic support of close friends and family but I need more help so that I can make our home our home again."
Nina and her children are currently moving around friends and family, while seeking emergency accommodation. While it is unknown what caused the fire, the Go Fund Me says: "Her daughter had left a lit candle close to her hamsters cage in her bedroom. Whether the hamster kicked up some sawdust is still an open question, but this happened when she had gone out for a short while with her kids."
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service told Belfast Live they they received the call on Saturday July 16 at 7.36pm.
They added: "One Fire Appliance each from Coleraine Fire Station, Portstewart Fire Station, Portrush Fire Station and Ballymoney Fire Station attended the incident. Firefighters were called to report of a house on fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels to extinguish the fire. The incident was dealt with by 9.41pm and the cause of the fire is being treated as accidental."
You can donate to Nina's fundraising page through this link.
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