An Australian scaffold business owner lost his family home in a devastating fire just before Christmas. Weeks later he died suddenly aged just 37.
Father of three Michael Claxton, the owner of Apex Scaffolding based in Adelaide, South Australia, suffered a fatal heart attack whilst on a business trip.
His family home was burnt to the ground in a freak accident just before Christmas. The immense loss of both Michael and the house has been made even heavier after the family learnt of an insurance policy loophole meant the home was not covered.
His wife, Marelka and three young children have been left with no money to rebuild.
She told local media, Michael lived for his children.
“He did everything for them… he’d bathe them, be the first to tuck them in,” she said.
She says the youngest children often still call out for their father.
Michael was just a small scaffold business owner and his family relied purely on his income to support the household.
In a bid to help the Claxton’s, Luke Woolam a family friend and a member of the Australian construction industry has set up a Go Fund Me page to help rebuild their home.
Over $50,000 of the $100,000 goal has already been raised to purchase materials needed, with all labour donated through friends from the construction industry.
“The aim is to put a roof over this family’s head in this time of grief and despair and get them back on their feet,” Woolman said. “They will never replace their husband and father, but a place to call home would be an amazing start.”
Donations to the Go Fund Me for the Claxton family can be made here
