Brother of BBC presenter is ‘unaccounted for’ after horror blaze ripped through hostel in New Zealand killing six
THE brother of a BBC presenter is “unaccounted for” after a horror blaze in a New Zealand hostel killed six people.
Lucy Hockings and her family are “awaiting further information from the authorities” having not heard from Liam after the huge fire in Wellington.
Six people have been confirmed to have died in the fire at Loafers Lodge and cops are treating the incident as suspicious.
Police added that they have accounted for at least 92 people who were in the hostel at the time of the fire.
While fewer than 20 are still unaccounted for.
Associated Press reported that people were forced to flee in their pyjamas as flames tore through the hostel, with others seen diving from windows or rescued by firefighters from the roof.
Lucy is still waiting for news on her brother with the BBC issuing a statement earlier today.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Following the devastating fire in at the hostel in Wellington, New Zealand, Liam Hockings, the brother of Lucy Hockings, remains unaccounted for.
“Liam lived at the hostel. Lucy and her family are awaiting further information from the authorities and we ask that her and her family’s privacy is respected at this time.
“The BBC will do everything it can to support Lucy.”
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins commented on Liam’s disappearance, saying they knew each other from university.
He said: “My thoughts are with Liam’s family and his extended family.
“I haven’t seen a lot of him in recent years, although I have run into him at various events around the place.”
The horror fire broke out in a four-storey hostel – predominately used by the government to house deportees.
A fire chief described the horror blaze as his “worst nightmare”.
At least 20 fire trucks were on the scene by 4am local time, with up to 90 firefighters battling the flames.
Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Pyatt said: “This is our once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington.
“I can sadly report that this will be a multi-fatality incident.
“Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those and attempted to rescue those that they couldn’t.
“This is our worst nightmare. It doesn’t get worse than this.”
Inspector Dion Bennett, acting Wellington District Commander for New Zealand Police, said after the fire: “We know there are many people waiting for news of family and friends – including the residents who escaped the fire and are keenly waiting for news of their fellow tenants.
“I again want to provide the reassurance that we have a large number of officers working on this investigation, with the aim of providing them the answers they need as quickly as possible.”
Hockings studied with Hipkins at Massey University, where he trained as a journalist.
He went on to work at the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations and ultimately moved into journalism.