Nulla Mongoo: Geraldton parents of house fire victims grieve one son, while other son fights for life

It is a pain no parent should have to bear — grieving the loss of one child, while another fights for his life. That is the unimaginable reality facing Geraldton parents Melissa and Matthew Mongoo, whose two sons Nulla and Matt, aged 13 and 14, were horrifically burnt in a fire that engulfed their Mt Tarcoola home last Thursday. After four days, Nulla — who suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body — lost his brave battle. His big brother Matt remains in a critical condition at Perth Children’s Hospital, along with a 12-year-old friend who was also badly burnt in the fire. Nulla and Matt’s shattered parents spoke out for the first time on Wednesday, saying they have not had time to grieve their youngest son while their other son battles to survive on life support. They are also pleading for the public’s help to rebuild their lives after they lost everything in the fire which destroyed their Marinula Road home. “I miss my baby,” Ms Mongoo told 7NEWS while breaking down in tears. “I knew something was wrong because the boys didn’t answer.” Organising a funeral for Nulla and finding another place to live are tasks that have to wait as the Mongoos remain by Matt’s side at PCH. “It’s really hard, at the moment we’re just confused,” Mr Mongoo said, with his wife adding: “Yesterday I locked myself away because it’s just too much.” The Mongoos said both their boys were “kind” and “caring” who would do anything for their friends. “They gave their home to every boy out on the streets, they were kind, they were caring, they loved every kid,” Ms Mongoo said. The fire — the cause of which is still under investigation — damaged the family home, which will now have to be destroyed. “There is no home, we have no home now,” Ms Mongoo said. Mr and Ms Mongoo have also asked for people to stop speculating about the cause of the blaze. “We gotta worry about our other son fighting for his life and to read that sort of stuff and hear about it is ridiculous,” Mr Mongoo said. “We haven’t even had time to mourn properly, cry or anything.” Tributes have poured in for the three boys. Family and friends have described the Mongoo brothers as “good boys” who attended school, had a close-knit group of friends and always tried to do the right thing. Flowers, candles, cards, angel statues and a teddy bear have been laid outside the Marinula Road home as the community mourns the tragedy. “RIP little man, you will be missed by so many,” one of the messages left with flowers read. The brothers’ aunty Debbie Thorne said: “I am still shocked by this terrible tragedy. Precious soul, he was my nephew. “I feel so sad for my cousin and her family at the moment words can’t describe how we all feel especially her and her husband and his siblings.” Social media tributes were posted soon after news of Nulla’s death was confirmed on Monday. “Gone way too soon my brother. You’re in a better place now, this town will not be the same without you anymore,” Kashe Mckie wrote on Facebook. “Miss you so much, thanks for all of the memories, love you so much.” “Deepest sympathy to all family and friends RIP . . . You were such a kind caring young man,” Sharon Walker commented on a tribute post. In an emotional social media tribute, Nulla’s aunty Rosalie Miller-Kickett said “my gorgeous baby Nulla . . . my heart is so broken to know you are no longer here with us”. “We all feel like it’s a nightmare,” she said. “(To the boy’s parents and siblings) I just can’t imagine how broken you all are feeling with the loss . . . and knowing that your other darlin son is fighting for his life. “We will forever treasure all the beautiful memories . . . in our hearts. Forever 13 Nulla, forever young.” Before emergency services arrived, neighbours rushed to help ease the agony of the injured boys, by wrapping them in wet towels, dousing them with water from garden hoses and taking them to hospital. To donate to the Mongoo family, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/nulla-and-matts-fight-for-life.