‘It's Very Hard To Let Go'

Selina and Stanton are devastated after an alleged gas leak robbed them of their beloved son and daughter

- Robyn Lucas

Spring had arrived and the end of a long year was finally in sight for the Ingram family. They had a lot to look forward to – renovations were planned for their home, their son was going to be in matric and their daughter had been accepted at her high school of choice.

All in all, things were looking up with all the uncertainty and craziness of 2020 being almost a thing of the past.

Never could Selina and Stanton Ingram have predicted the horror that awaited them – that an invisible killer would destroy their plans and dreams and leave them mourning the death of two beloved children.

Matthew (17) and Tammy (12) died of organ failure after allegedly inhaling toxic gas, believed to have come from fumigation chemicals used in another unit in their residential complex in Kabega Park, Port Elizabeth.

“It was a month of celebration for us and then it became a month of death and funerals,” Selina says, fighting back tears.

She and Stanton can no longer bear to live in the home where they created precious memories with their children, and have moved in with Selina’s mother.

They’re left grappling with so many questions, which they hope will eventually be answered. Then perhaps they’ll achieve some closure and find a way to move on with their lives.

Making matters worse is the possibility that the tragedy could’ve been avoided. The fumigators, hired by residents who live four units away from the Ingrams, told the occupants of the two neighbouring units to vacate their premises for the duration of the fumigation.