A FAMILY of ten have been left homeless after a fire gutted their flat.
They had a lucky escape when the blaze broke out at the property in Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, which has destroyed most of their possessions.
Nikola Antusova had to run from the building clutching her two children – two-year-old Jasmin and six-month-old Felip – after spotting smoke billowing from one of the youngster's bedrooms.
She opened the door to see flames and acrid smoke filling the room.
Her partner, Felip Kosik, said: "It is devastating; we have lost everything.
"We do not know what caused the fire but it has left us with nothing.
"We have had to move in with friends until we can find somewhere to live. We just don't know where to turn."
The couple lived at the house with Felip's father, businessman Radek Mirga, his wife and their four children.
Now, they are struggling to explain to Jasmin what has happened and why they are homeless. The little girl keeps asking to go home.
As reported in yesterday's Grimsby Telegraph, the fire broke out in the flat, above Lincs Radio, at about 5.47pm on Monday.
The fire was caused by an undetermined source but is thought to have been accidental.
Fire crews used breathing apparatus to safely enter the building, and the flames were extinguished by 6.15pm.
Mr Mirga said: "My son Felip called me and said the house was on fire. I was only on Freeman Street, shopping with my wife, so I quickly ran back.
"When I got there I saw fire engines and an ambulance. I was really worried because I didn't know what had happened.
"I do not know what we can save from the house; I think everything is gone or smoke damaged.
"My son, Roman, could no go back to school because his uniform was lost in the fire.
"The school has very kindly said he can still go until he gets sorted.
"My older son has not been able to go back to school at all because his uniform was also destroyed.
"We are having to rebuild everything – we need to buy clothes, shoes ... everything."
Mr Mirga has just opened a shop, the Samuel Food Store, on Cleethorpe Road, and the ordeal has temporarily stopped him from focussing on his new venture.
"I do not know what to do now," he said. "It has completely devastated us.
"But we are very fortunate. Nikola was very lucky to get outside with the children – we don't want to think what might have happened if she hadn't.
"A friend has put us up in his flat and we are being given some temporary accommodation until we can get back on our feet.
"We want to thank everyone who has helped us, and our friend for taking us in when we had nowhere to live.
"It is very hard to find somewhere for a big family like ours."
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