“SHE WAS STILL HOLDING THEIR PHOTO” — MUM DIED CLUTCHING THE MEMORY OF HER FOUR CHILDREN

Michelle Pearson survived the devastating Walkden firebomb attack, but spent the final 20 months of her life fighting injuries that would never fully heal

For 20 months, Michelle Pearson fought to stay alive.

She had survived the devastating fire that tore through her family home in Walkden, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of December 11, 2017.

But four of her children — Demi, 15, Brandon, 8, Lacie, 7, and Lia, 3 — did not survive.

Michelle suffered burns to 68% of her body and spent months in a coma. She eventually died in hospital on August 25, 2019, aged just 37.

Now, almost nine years after the fire, a new inquest has brought the family’s heartbreaking story back into the spotlight.

And one detail from the hearing has left an especially painful image behind.

SHE DIED WITH HER CHILDREN CLOSE TO HER

As Michelle’s condition deteriorated, her family placed a photograph of her four children in her hand.

A crucifix was wrapped around the photograph.

That was how the mother of six spent her final moments.

Her family later said:

“We know she’s back with her children and out of pain.”

Michelle had never stopped being a mother, even after the fire had taken her children from her.

The family said she had been a devoted mother who read bedtime stories to her children every night.

FOUR CHILDREN WHO HAD THEIR WHOLE LIVES AHEAD OF THEM

At the opening of the inquest, emotional tributes were read for the children.

Demi was remembered as a happy, smiley girl with a heart of gold and as one of her mother’s closest friends.

Brandon was described as the family’s “brainbox,” with an impressive vocabulary and an infectious smile. He loved the Beatles and picking flowers from the park.

Lacie loved dancing and was remembered by her family as a little “diva.”

And Lia, the youngest, was remembered for her cheeky laugh and a smile that could melt hearts.

Their family said all four children had “such bright futures ahead of them.”

Those futures ended inside their home.

MICHELLE HAD WARNED THAT SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE

The tragedy has also raised difficult questions about what happened in the weeks before the fire.

The inquest heard that Michelle had repeatedly told police she was frightened and did not feel safe at the family home.

The property had already been targeted.

Windows were smashed. Her wheelie bin was set on fire. Graffiti appeared on the walls.

A neighbour, Elaine Williams, told the hearing that she had seen Zak Bolland smashing the windows of Michelle’s house with a hammer weeks before the fatal attack.

Michelle wanted to leave.

Her mother, Sandra Lever, said Michelle had become increasingly distressed and had sought help to move to another home.

Her children were reportedly having nightmares, while Brandon had told his family that he no longer wanted to live there.

THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED

In the early hours of December 11, 2017, Zak Bolland and David Worrall went to the Pearson family home.

The pair had made petrol bombs.

According to evidence summarized at the inquest, Worrall smashed a rear window and threw one device inside. It ignited, but only to a limited extent.

Bolland then threw another petrol bomb.

It exploded with considerable force.

The resulting blaze rapidly engulfed the house.

Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia died in the attack.

Michelle survived — but with devastating injuries.

She would spend the next 20 months fighting for her life.

THE FAMILY HAS WAITED YEARS FOR ANSWERS

Bolland and Worrall were convicted of the children’s murders and sentenced to life imprisonment, with minimum terms of 40 and 37 years respectively.

Bolland’s then-girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, was sentenced to 21 years for four counts of manslaughter.

Bolland and Worrall were later also convicted in connection with Michelle’s death.

But for Michelle’s family, the criminal convictions did not answer every question.

Relatives have argued that the deaths may have been preventable and have raised concerns about whether there were missed opportunities to protect the family before the fire.

The current inquest is examining whether there was a foreseeable threat to the family and whether anything could or should have been done differently.

Senior Coroner Timothy Brennand stressed that the inquest is not a criminal trial and is not intended to become an exercise in blame.

Instead, it is intended to give the Pearson family a voice and examine what happened before the tragedy.

QUESTIONS THAT HAVE WAITED NEARLY NINE YEARS

The inquest is also examining the involvement of police, local authorities, health services and other agencies before the attack.

A previous police watchdog investigation was reopened after concerns were raised about the original investigation. The Independent Office for Police Conduct said in 2025 that it would conduct a fresh investigation into events leading up to the fire.

The inquest is expected to last up to eight weeks.

For Michelle’s family, however, the most important part of the story remains painfully simple.

She was a mother who wanted her children safe.

She had warned that she was afraid.

And when her final battle was ending, the last thing she held was not a legal document or a reminder of the tragedy.

It was a photograph of the four children she had lost.

Demi. Brandon. Lacie. Lia.

Four faces.

Four lives.

And a mother who, until the very end, kept them close. 🤍