Tributes paid to dead firefighters

Updated 20.32 Wed Nov 07 2007

Keywords: fire, Warwickshire

The father of one of four firefighters killed in a warehouse blaze has described his son's death as his "worst nightmare come true".

Paul Stephens paid tribute to his 20-year-old son Ashley and spoke of his despair at having to leave the scene knowing his son's body was still inside the building.

"It was absolutely beyond anybody's worst nightmare to know that your son's in there, and having to come away from the incident knowing that he's still in there" - Paul Stephens

Mr Stephens, also a firefighter, said he was a member of the third crew sent to battle the blaze on Friday night.

He said: "It was absolutely beyond anybody's worst nightmare to know that your son's in there, and having to come away from the incident knowing that he's still in there.

"It's difficult to explain because it's my worst nightmare come true. In the 26 years that I've been in the service to never have a problem, and then my son after two years loses his life."

The bodies of Ashley Stephens and two other men - Darren Yates-Badley, 24, and John Averis, 27, were retrieved from the plant after a five-day search operation. Their colleague Ian Reid, 44, was rescued from the fire on Friday but died that night in hospital.

More than 200 firefighters stood in silent respect in a guard of honour as the bodies were taken from the ruins of the warehouse in Atherstone on Stour.

Standard-bearers from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service led the emotional procession.