Mother finally wakes up to be told her four children died in a house fire

A mother who lost who four children in an alleged arson attack on their home has finally woken from her coma to be told the youngsters are dead. 

Michelle Pearson, 36, was unaware of their deaths for more than four months, as she was placed in a medically-induced coma after the fire broke out in December.

Demi Pearson, 14, Brandon, eight, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, all died following the house fire in Walkden, Greater Manchester. 

Last month, Zak Bolland, 23, Courtney Brierley, 20, and David Worrall, 25, pleaded not guilty in court to murdering the four children in an arson attack. 

Michelle Pearson, 36, was unaware of their deaths for more than four months, as she was placed in a medically-induced coma after the fire broke out in December (shown right, Lacie)

Demi Pearson, 14, who died in a house fire in Walkden, Greater Manchester, on December 11

Emergency services were called to the family’s mid-terraced home in Walkden shortly after 5am on December 11. 

Greater Manchester Police revealed today that the devastating news was broken to her some time ago.

But it was only ‘within the past two weeks’ that she finally understood the enormity of what had happened. 

Two other teenagers managed to escape from the property during the fire.

Firefighters battled against the flames, but were unable to rescue siblings Demi, Brandon and Lacie. Lia was taken to hospital but died a few days later.

Det chief Insp Lewis Hughes, the senior investigating officer, said: ‘Michelle is making good progress in ICU.

‘She is now able to communicate and to eat and drink, which is fantastically good news’.

But he added: ‘She won’t be able to take part in the trial and is going through he in hospital for a very long time to come’.

DCI Hughes revealed that Ms Pearson had shown signs of regaining consciousness in the past couple of months.

‘But it is only within the past fortnight that she has become sufficiently lucid to understand that four of her children have died.

Emergency services were called to the family’s mid-terraced home in Walkden shortly after 5am on December 11

Last month, Zak Bolland, 23, Courtney Brierley, 20, and David Worrall, 25, pleaded not guilty in court to murdering the four children in an arson attack

‘Precious to that she has been told several times, but was unable to understand or digest the information. 

‘She remains heavily sedated but lucid and is speaking to surviving members of her family.’

He declined to give details of her details juries beyond saying she had suffered ‘severe burns’.

As Michelle lay critically ill in hospital, the children’s grandfather Mike Pearson, aunt Claire Pearson, and uncle Chris Pearson paid an emotional tribute.

In a joint statement they said: ‘Demi, such a beautiful young lady with so many friends. She would do anything for anyone, nothing was too much trouble.

‘She had been poorly through her life, but she was tough and so strong, nothing could stop her.

‘She was like another mum to the younger ones, such a star. Brandon was going to be the next Stephen Hawking.

Brandon and Lacie both died in the fire, while their sister Lia was taken to hospital but died a few days later

As Michelle lay critically ill in hospital, the children’s grandfather Mike Pearson, aunt Claire Pearson, and uncle Chris Pearson paid an emotional tribute

‘He was so clever and you would feel like you were talking to an old man when you spoke to him. He would use words that we didn’t even know.

‘Brandon and Lacie were like twins, they were close in age, but had an even closer bond. They were always together.

‘You couldn’t just do something with one of them, they came as a pair. Lacie was a little diva, she loved to dance.

‘There was always music on in the house and Lacie would always be dancing to it. Her teachers said she would ask to go to the toilet then dance out of the classroom and down the corridor. 

‘Little Lia loved Peppa Pig. She called everyone pig, so Mummy Pig, Demi Pig, Brandon Pig and Lacie Pig. She even called herself Lia pig.

‘She was so cute and the older ones doted on her. Demi had a beautiful relationship with Lia.

‘They would spend so much time together, Demi would sit in Lia’s bed watching Peppa Pig with her.’ 

Firefighters battled against the flames, but were unable to rescue siblings Demi, Brandon and Lacie. Lia was taken to hospital but died a few days later