Mother and two children killed in Nottingham flat fire were set for new life in America, father reveals | UK News
A mother and two young children who died in a fire in Nottingham were being prepared for a new life in America before they were killed, the children’s father said.
Aboubacarr Drammeh is applying for visas for his wife and their two young daughters so they can join him to Minnesota, where he works as a biomedical technician.
But tragedy struck when Fatoumatta Hydara, 28, and her daughters Fatimah, three, and Naeemah, one. die in the fire at their Clifton home on November 20.
Mr Drammeh described the past week as the hardest of his life and said he would never forget spending his 40th birthday in the hospital morgue.
In a statement released by police, he said: “The plan is to move Fatoumatta and the children to America so we can all live together.
“We booked an interview for November 29th and it will be the last before we hope to get their visa.
“That’s not going to happen now and I can’t understand why.”
Jamie Barrow, 31, has been charged with three counts of murder following the deaths of two victims.
He appeared in court on Friday where he spoke only to confirm his name and address and was taken into custody.
Items left at the scene of the fire
Describing when he learned of the fire, Mr Drammeh said: “I got the call at 5am.
“I was praying and then I found myself missing 5 calls from the grandma of the kids. I called back and she started crying.
“She said there was a fire and the children didn’t survive and that Fatoumatta was in the intensive care unit.”
He described his wife as “caring and very compassionate” who would help anyone she could.
“She loves the kids,” he added. “They did a lot of baking and fun things in the house together.
“They’ll make cookies and cupcakes and love icing on the cake.”
Mr Drammeh revealed the last time he spoke to his wife was hours before the fire and also paid tribute to his two young daughters, with whom he would speak daily on FaceTime.
“Both are really happy kids,” he said.
“They love spending time with their grandparents and are very close like siblings.”
