Arabic version: مقتل شخصين في حريق منزل بكينغستون جنوب بريزبن

According to ABC News, Leanne Gay Laver and family friend Phillip Gordon died after a house caught fire in the Logan suburb of Kingston, south of Brisbane, on Tuesday afternoon. A crime scene has been declared as investigators work to determine what caused the blaze.

Leanne Laver, 62, lived with her husband Ari at the two-storey Adelaide Street home, which the couple had rented for 35 years. The pair had been married for 42 years and had three children, including a daughter they informally adopted as an adult.

Mr Laver said he and his wife heard a thump before the fire forced them from the property within about three minutes. He said he ran for a hose believing she would follow, but could not re-enter after discovering the fire was beneath the house. Mr Laver and three other people escaped unharmed.

Mr Laver, who said he is partially paralysed, said his wife had been his carer. He also said she had stage four lymphoma but had recently received encouraging health reports. Mr Gordon, 73, had been known to Mr Laver since he was 17, and was regarded by him as a brother.

Neighbour Tiffany Tinker said the fire spread quickly. She said her children alerted her to the neighbouring house being on fire, and that she could smell it before hearing it. When she looked outside, she saw flames engulfing the home.