A fire that ignited in an artificial lawn nearly claimed the lives of a couple in their home, with neighbours playing a crucial role in alerting them to the danger. Shaun Whyatt, 57, a security worker, and his partner Jenn Barnet, 53, a trained nurse, were awakened around 3 a.m. by urgent knocking at their door in an incident that took place at their property’s rear. Upon investigating, the couple discovered flames and thick smoke engulfing the back of their house.

The blaze is believed to have been started when embers from a fire bin set fire to the artificial turf lawn. Shaun Whyatt had been burning bills in the bin earlier that evening and, despite saturating the ashes with water, suspects that embers passed through a hole in the bin and ignited the synthetic grass.

The couple managed to escape the house safely, bringing their two cats with them, but the fire caused extensive damage. Black smoke and flames melted rear windows and blackened interior rooms, requiring significant cleanup efforts. Fencing, decking, and a tool-filled shed were also destroyed.

Whyatt expressed profound gratitude to the neighbours, who had never met him before, for their timely intervention. “If it wasn’t for our neighbours, we wouldn’t be here now,” he said, describing the moment he first saw the fire and his emotional reaction.

The couple now face a repair bill estimated at £15,000. Complicating matters, their home was uninsured due to a communication lapse following a change in bank account details by Barnet, who mistakenly believed she had informed her insurer. Barnet, who installed the artificial turf a decade ago at a cost of £1,000, expressed deep regret about the decision. “I’ll never, ever go near fake grass again,” she said.

To assist with the unexpected expenses of restoring their home, relatives have established a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds. The incident highlights potential fire risks associated with synthetic lawns and serves as a cautionary tale about ensuring insurance coverage remains current during personal financial changes.