Sudden death of young father-of-three strikes a further tragic blow to family whose uninsured home had burnt down over Christmas
- The Claxton family's home in Adelaide was destroyed by a fire in December
- Father-of-three Michael died of a heart attack last week while on a business trip
- Mr Claxton's devastated wife Marelka said their three young kids were his world
- She said Mr Claxton was traumatised by the blaze that ravaged their family home
A family whose home burned to the ground over Christmas has been dealt another tragic blow with the sudden death of father-of-three Michael Claxton.
The Claxton family's home in Hackham, in Adelaide's southern suburbs, was destroyed by a fire last December.
Now, less than three months later, the death of Mr Claxton from a heart attack while on a business trip to Sydney at age 37 has compounded the family's woes.
Mr Claxton's devastated widow Marelka said their three kids, Macey, 9, Madders, 5 and baby Macklin, were his world.
Father-of-three Michael Claxton died of a heart attack last week while on a business trip in Sydney, aged just 37
Mr Claxton's devastated wife Marelka said Mr Claxton was left traumatised after saving his eldest son from the fire that ravaged their home
'He did everything for them... he'd bathe them, be the first to tuck them in,' she told 7News.
'The little ones are still looking for him. He was absolutely everything to me and the children.'
Mrs Claxton said her husband had a 'heart of gold' and she didn't know 'how I'm going to live life without him'.
The mother said Mr Claxton was left traumatised after saving his eldest son from the fire that ravaged their home.
The Claxton family's home in Hackham, in Adelaide's outer suburbs, was destroyed by a fire last December
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'The images of our little boy trapped in that fire played on his mind constantly. He couldn't sleep at night,' she said.
The family, which had relied solely on Mr Claxton's income as a scaffolder, was now struggling to stay afloat financially.
Because of an insurance policy loophole, the family-of-five was not covered for fire and had no money to rebuild a home which they are still paying a mortgage on.
A Go Fund Me page with a goal of $100,000 has been started to help rebuild the family home.
'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,' family friend Luke Woolman said.
Mr Claxton's devastated wife Marelka said their three kids, Macey, 9, Madders, 5 and baby Macklin, were his world
