A mum who lost her young son in a caravan blaze in January has revealed her other son – who was given a slim chance of survival – is “amazing” them with his recovery.

Erin Harvey told the Cambrian News this week that their family “will never be the same again” after the fire, which took the life of her “cheeky” youngest son, Zac, 3, and left his father, Shaun, hospitalised.

Harley was left in critical condition following the blaze, in the early hours of Sunday, 19 January, in Ffair Rhos near Pontrhydfendigaid.

Erin said brave Harley, who suffered burns and was in hospital for six weeks, is facing a long road ahead, but continues to amaze them with his progress, even attending school before the lockdown.

Erin said: “Zac was such a little ray of sunshine, always so happy and cheeky. Our home is very quiet now he’s gone.

“Harley and his brother Alex are coping well at the moment, and we’ve got support in place. It’s something that will never get any easier and our family will never be the same again.”

She described having nurses and doctors to help “around the clock” when Harley eventually left hospital, after around six weeks.

After the fire, Harley was airlifted to Bristol Children’s Hospital, where he stayed until 25 February, and he was home by the end of the month.

Erin said: “The first few weeks of adjusting to home life was hard, after having nurses and doctors to help around the clock to being on my own with Harley.

“It was worrying for me, but Harley adapted to the change well. We soon got into a routine of medications, baths, dressing changes and creams.

“He was in a wheelchair for the first few weeks but you wouldn’t even think it now. He’s definitely back to his active self.

“He still can’t do all the things he could before and needs help with things like eating and toilet trips.

“He doesn’t have full function of his left hand, but to our amazement he wiggled his fingers for the first time the other day. He’s definitely making progress. He had done two afternoons back in Pontrhydfendigaid School before lockdown happened, and he can’t wait until he can go back and see all his friends. The teachers have been a massive support to us and still continue to check in on us all via phone.

“We are waiting for an appointment with his consultant to discuss his next surgery in Morriston.

“It’s going to be a long road, but the way Harley takes it all and excels in every way possible makes it much easier on us all as a family.

“The staff at Morriston Burns Unit have been amazing. I would like to thank everyone who is supporting us along our journey.”

Police said this week that the investigation is ongoing to establish the cause of the fire that tragically took the life of Zac. The fire is not being treated as suspicious.