One of two women killed when a timber balcony collapsed at a Christmas party has been remembered as ‘mother hen of the group’, as the efforts of a hero witness who saved countless more lives are revealed.
Cheryl Taylor, 59, died when a balcony at a home in Doncaster, in Melbourne’s north-east, gave way under the weight of more than 30 partygoers late on Saturday night.
Ms Taylor and a 37-year-old woman, both managers at Tupperware, died as the deck at the home of Eve and Chris Nunn collapsed, while 17 other people were injured.
Paying tribute to her mother on Sunday night, Ms Taylor’s daughter posted a photo of them to Facebook, captioning it: ‘There is a light and it never goes out.’
And a shocked partygoer told Daily Mail Australia how if it wasn’t for the efforts of her brave husband, a fridge would have fallen on top of those trapped below and almost certainly led to more deaths.
Cheryl Taylor (right) was killed when a balcony collapsed at a home in Melbourne during the Christmas party for Tupperware
Ms Taylor was remembered as the ‘mother hen of the group’ by her distraught colleagues and friends
Leisa Willson, who took a haunting selfie on the same deck at the Tupperware party only 12 months earlier, said when the balcony gave way a large fridge began sliding towards the gaping hole.
‘Eve (Nunn) had just done her speech and given out some beautiful gifts when I said to her: “Shall we get a group photo again before everyone leaves?”,’ Ms Willson said.
‘I’d literally just said that and we were all getting up and I handed my seven-week-old son to one of my girlfriends when crash, and it all just fell through.
‘This fridge began rolling down towards the hole. My husband just kind of went into survival mode I guess, and Matt stopped it (the fridge) and he held it up on the deck.
‘There was probably 20 people down there and it would’ve crushed all of them… no doubt there would have been more casualties.’
Ms Willson said many of her colleagues and friends who made it out alive had called her husband a hero, but that he ‘didn’t want to hear it’.
Leisa Willson (left) who was at the party, says if it wasn’t for the brave actions of her husband Matt (right) to stop a fridge from falling into the hole were up to 20 people lay trapped the death toll from the incident would have risen
A group selfie (pictured) taken by Ms Willson at last year’s Christmas party on the very same balcony is a haunting portrait of the doomed party-goers
Chris and Eve Nunn (pictured) were hosting the party at their home for 30 guests when their wooden balcony caved in
Friends of Mr and Mrs Nunn say the couple are a popular and ‘friendly’ couple who regularly hosted gatherings at their rented home.
Among the guests were Chris and Eve’s employees from their Tupperware business.
A group selfie image taken at last year’s Christmas party on the very same balcony is a haunting portrait of the doomed party-goers.
Neighbour Andrew Stone described the tragedy as ‘biblical’.
‘The sound of it was like nothing I’ve heard before, and then of course followed by the screaming,’ he told Seven News.
Mr Stone added that the screams were so loud, he initially thought it was a brawl.
The Tupperware bosses (pictured) have been described as a ‘friendly’ couple who regularly host gatherings at their rented Melbourne home
The Doncaster East home is pictured before the tragic incident which killed two women
Among the guests were Chris (pictured right) and Eve’s (left) employees from their Tupperware business
It is believed the group of revellers were attempting to take a group selfie when the balcony caved in, sending guests tumbling into the ground below
‘People were walking around with blood on them, crying, it was devastating really,’ he said.
Ambulance Victoria said it was forced to activate its major emergency response plan to appropriately deal with the incident, turning the entire suburban street into a makeshift emergency room.
There were 17 people rushed to hospital with varying injuries, and 12 more treated at the scene.
Ambulance Victoria said 10 women and seven men aged between 20 and 69-years-old sustained soft tissue injuries, fractures and lacerations and were transported to Box Hill, Austin and Maroondah hospitals.
Victoria Police are seen outside the Doncaster East home in Melbourne on Sunday morning
Two Tupperware vehicles are seen parked outside the home the morning after the balcony collapse
Two women are dead and 17 people have been injured after a balcony collapsed during a Christmas party in Melbourne (pictured) Saturday night
‘This is a very tragic incident for those involved and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones at this time,’ State Health Commander Paul Holman said.
Photos show dozens of emergency service vehicles lining the streets of the residential area with people flooding on to the road.
Heavy furniture including a barbecue and fridge were on the balcony when it collapsed.
Acting Superintendent Kerin Moloney said the tragedy of the collapse was ‘magnified’ because it was so close to Christmas.
Victoria Police said they believe more than 30 people were standing on the timber balcony when it collapsed
One, who is yet to be identified, died at the scene (pictured) while the other died in hospital
A distressed appearing woman is on the phone surrounded by emergency services
He said the incident was so horrific personnel who attended the scene were offered counselling.
‘It was a really tragic incident for all emergency services who have attended and also those who were present at the party,’ he said.
‘All the police that have attended have been offered peer support and also the SES and ambulance officers.’
Police continue to investigate and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Photos show dozens of emergency service vehicles lining the streets of the residential area with people flooding to the road
Several people were also trapped after the balcony collapsed at about 10.30pm in Doncaster East (pictured), about 22 kilometres east of Melbourne
Police believe more than 30 people were standing on the balcony of the home when it collapsed about 10.30pm yesterday, in Balinga Court, Doncaster East
Residents speak to emergency service workers outside the home after the balcony collapse
Police are seen taking a statement from a man outside the home in the late hours of Saturday night
Police officers take statements following the tragedy which has left two people dead
Twelve ambulances, police, SES and fire brigades all responded to the scene