The family of a tragic Angus marine left homeless after a devastating fire are finally getting back on their feet.
Ralph Hebden’s widow Sarah and three-year-old daughter Evie lost everything when flames ripped through their West Derby home in June.
A precious box of keepsakes kept in memory of the Afghanistan veteran – who never got to meet his daughter Evie – were lost forever after the home burned down when a disposable barbecue was blown over.
Sarah kept things like his dog tags, newspaper cuttings, letters he’d written while he was away, their wedding album, and Evie’s baby scan to show to her when she was old enough to understand.
Sarah and Evie were sleeping on couches at her mum’s home after the blaze which forced them to flee for their lives.
A forces charity for the children of dead service personnel launched a nationwide #helpevie campaign and the family has now received £3,267 from Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
Sarah said: “I want to thank everyone who has donated to the Scotty’s appeal.
“It means the world to me and Evie that so many people have come forward and either donated money or their time to help get our house back together.
“It was heartbreaking watching my whole life go up in flames and everything that I’d saved of Ralph’s just disappear, so I greatly appreciate all of the help that Scotty’s has provided.”
Former Big Brother winner Craig Phillips helped out after appealing for building suppliers and tradesmen to help Sarah get back into her house as soon as possible.
He said he got involved because he could only imagine how devastating a time it had been for Sarah and Evie and “felt we needed to help her”.
Mr Hebden fell to his death from a foggy clifftop off the Arbroath coast after going missing from RM Condor on March 11 2013.
The search for Mr Hebden started on the same day as his disappearance when the town’s coastline was combed by coastguards and police late into the evening.
In the days and weeks which followed, several more searches of Arbroath were made, including one with the involvement of fellow marines from 45 Commando.
Toxteth-born Mr Hebden, 32, was found three weeks later and his wife gave birth to their daughter in the period following his disappearance.
The Hebdens returned to England following a harrowing investigation that recorded Mr Hebden’s death as a “tragic accident”.
Mr Hebden was laid to rest at the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas in Liverpool with full military honours.
Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello recorded a verdict of accidental death caused by salt water drowning and urged his family to cherish their memories of him.
He told the inquest: “It really, really is important, particularly for his little girl, that his life is remembered.
“She must grow up knowing her dad and being proud of her dad for the selfless occupation he took on behalf his Queen and his country.”
