The mother who lost her three young children in a Sanson house fire has spoken for the first time about the incident that left her “heartbroken and devastated”.
August, Hugo and Goldie, aged 7, 5 and 1, were killed in a fire on Saturday, November 15, at the family’s home in the Manawatū town.
Their father, Dean Field, was also found dead at the scene. Police are investigating the incident as a homicide.
In her first public statement released this morning, Chelsey Field also revealed she lost her beloved pet dog and the ashes of her stillborn baby in the fire.
“August, Hugo and Goldie were taken from me and all those who love them in the most horrible of circumstances, but I do not want their deaths to define the important, beautiful lives that they lived,” she said.
“My babies were my absolute world.”
The funeral for the children will be held next Tuesday, November 25. Details for the ceremony can be found here.
Chelsey Field also clarified that her and Dean were not separated at the time of the incident. They were still married and living together at the Sanson property.
Field said she had been a stay-at-home mum since she had Hugo in 2020.
“Before that, I was an early childhood teacher and August came to work with me every day, and I am so glad I got this time with my darlings.
“I enjoyed so much quality time with them; trips to gymnastics, music groups, playgroups and play dates with friends. We had so much fun together and many holidays away. I will forever cherish all these special memories.”
She also revealed her beloved pet, a miniature schnauzer, Marlo, who would have been 6 this Christmas, along with the ashes of her stillborn daughter Iris, were lost in the blaze.
“[Marlo] was the children’s best friend, and one of Goldie’s first words was dog.
“I also had a stillborn daughter, Iris, who would have been nine this year. I have lost her ashes, photos and all her special keepsakes. I know my darlings will be reunited with their big sister.
“This incident has left me heartbroken and devastated. My children did not deserve this.”
Chelsey Field said August was looking forward to celebrating his eighth birthday at Timezone next Thursday with his best friends.
“He was such a happy, kind and outgoing boy. He loved sport, especially football, he was a massive Messi fan. I had been planning on taking him to a Wellington Phoenix game soon.
“He loved going to the stock cars, fishing at the beach and playing with his best friend Levi.”
She said August was a “fantastic big brother” who loved his siblings, especially his baby sister.
“He liked to get her out of bed in the morning, he would make her bottles and feed her. He loved his brother Hugo and they were always glued at the hip, either wrestling or playing outside making huts, digging in the sandpit or playing on the trampoline.
Her second child, Hugo, was a mama’s boy, she said.
“He was so kind, thoughtful and considerate, he would always come and tell me, ‘Mum, I got Goldie’s nappy and wipes ready for you, Mum, I put your bag by the car for you’.”
The 5-year-old only began school in term 2 of this year and his mum said he was “taking it in his stride”.
“Hugo loved going to the beach fishing also and riding his motorbike. He had just enjoyed his first pet day at school where he took his lamb Nigel and he won an award for care and attention.
“He loved his little sister, Goldie, too, and was such a doting big brother.”
Field said her youngest, Goldie, was the “special little girl she had waited for”.
“I am so glad I never spent a day or night away from her in her short life.
“She had just gotten her top two teeth and was pulling herself up to standing and attempting to coast around furniture.
“Her first words were ‘Hi’ and ‘dog’, she even said ‘Marlo’ the dog’s name before she said Mum.”
Field called her the “happiest little girl” who loved “big snuggly cuddles” and her brothers.
“She followed them around the house getting into their Lego and toys.
“She loved going into the boys’ school every morning and afternoon and she had a massive fan club with the younger girls there.”
Chelsey Field also acknowledged the outpouring of support from the community and acknowledged the first responders to the incident who have helped her since the fire.
“Their support has been so appreciated,” she said.
To close the statement, Field extended her sincere thanks to the many thousands of people around New Zealand who have “been so generous during this difficult time”.
“I have felt the aroha of those around me, in my community and around the country.
“This support has given me the strength to carry on in honour of the short lives my children lived and the impressions they left on so many people’s hearts.”
Field’s friends set up a Givealittle donation page for her on Sunday to create a “safety net for her” and to “provide her with the space and security needed to grieve in solitude, without the added stress of financial ruin”.
That Givealittle page has so far raised more than $346,000 from 9100-plus donors.