Story thread · 7 reports / 7 sources

Neighbours tried saving girl, 7, and her aunt from burning house

metro.co.uk · 6dShare

Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece, Valentina Foster, were killed in the Grangetown fire (Picture: PA) Residents tried to save a girl, seven, and her aunt from a house fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough. The deadly blaze engulfed a home on Birchington Avenue, trapping seven-year-old Valentina Foster inside with her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34. Their cause of death was confirmed during a brief opening of inquest into the tragedy, which has left the Teesside community grieving. The young girl and her aunt both died from the effects of the fire, coroner Paul Appleton confirmed. A family home was gutted in the fire on August 26 (Picture: Andy Commins/PA Wire) Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Ms McDonald was described as ‘bright, bubbly and full of life’ and she was newly married. The coroner also outlined what happened on the morning of Wednesday, August 26, before suspending

First report: Girl, 7, and aunt ‘murdered’ in house fire despite heroic bid to save them – as tragic new details emerge at inquest — thesun.co.uk, 7d