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Mother told of daughter's death

4/ 8/2008

A HEARTBROKEN survivor of an arson attack on a family home has been told that both her daughter and mother died as a result of the blaze.

Saima Mian, 24, was unaware that her mum Hameeda Begum, 71, was killed in the fire at Little Holme Walk, Bolton, on June 23 as she recovered in hospital from her own injuries.

Last Friday, her four-year- old daughter Alana also lost her battle for life after a month of hospital treatment. Relatives were forced to inform Saima of both deaths at the weekend after deciding she was finally well enough to be told.

Saima's brother Qaisar Mumtaz, 32, said: "How can I describe what my sister is going through - losing a child after losing a mother? We had to make her aware. She kept crying and crying and screaming and the family was trying to support her and calm her down. For weeks she had been unconscious and she only came round a week ago.

"We hid my mother's death from her because we wanted to tell her when she got a bit better.

"But when she heard Alana was dead she was determined to see her mum and we had to tell her everything."

Saima and Alana were visiting from their home in Australia at the time of the arson attack.

A 22-year-old man and a boy aged 12 arrested in connection with the blaze have been bailed until September 24 pending further inquiries.

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