Archie York's mum tells of 'living nightmare' since losing her precious son in Benwell explosion
by Sophie Doughty · ChronicleLiveLovingly cradling his new baby brother, little Archie York beams with pride.
But today his heartbroken parents are still struggling to come to terms with the fact that they will never see their boys grow up together, after Archie's life was snatched away.
Archie was just seven years old when he died after a huge explosion ripped through his home, in Benwell, Newcastle, almost six months ago. Today his mum, Katherine Errington, has spoken of her devastation for the first time.
And as the 27-year-old laid bear the unimaginable agony of losing her precious boy, Katherine has thanked staff at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) for their care and compassion in the hours, days and weeks after the tragedy.
Katherine said: "It's just been awful. It's like we went to sleep that night and and we haven't woken up from that nightmare. It's like we are living in a nightmare.
"As a parent and as a mother you try your best to keep your children safe, and that was took out of my hands. When they are in the house, that's supposed to be the safest place."
Archie and his family were asleep at their home, on Violet Close, when the explosion happened during the early hours of October 16. Katherine was in one room with her new baby Finley, while Archie and his dad, Robbie, 27, slept in another. Katherine and Robbie were taken to hospital for treatment, while little Finley was uninjured.
"The RVI was the hospital we got taken to straight after the explosion," Katherine explained. "From the start they were absolutely great. The care and compassion they had after something like this was amazing. They said they had never dealt with anything like this. "It is amazing what they done.
"As soon as we got there it was a shock to everyone. They didn't know what had happened. Everyone was so compassionate with all of us. They made sure Finley was ok.
"I do believe Archie was looking out for him on that night."
Paying tribute to her son, Katherine has described Archie as a "happy" little boy who loved playing with his friends.
"Archie was a very cheeky little boy, he did light up the room everywhere," she said. "He loved playing on Fortnite, he loved playing outside with his friends and he loved going to school. He was just a happy lad."
And in the weeks before he died, the Bridgewater Primary School pupil had taken to his new role as a big brother with pride.
"He was so looking forward to to being a big brother," said Katherine. "When I was pregnant he kept saying; 'When is the baby coming?'
"He just loved looking after Finley. He loved changing his nappies and bathing him. He was very hands on. It's just so sad I can't watch them grow up together. That's just been ripped away."
As Archie's heartbroken parents waited to be able to hold his funeral, staff at the hospital continued to support them
"Archie was there lying to rest for a good three months," Katherine continued. "Whenever I wanted to visit him they let us. They were just really nice from start to finish. It helped a lot, it really did."
Archie was finally laid to rest in January. following a Marvel-themed service at Newcastle's West Road Crematorium. In lieu of flowers, his family invited donations to be made to the Newcastle Hospitals Charity. They have since donated almost £700 to the Great North Children's Hospital in Archie's memory.
"If that money helps the nurses or anyone else it's going to be on Archie," said Katherine. "He was a caring person."
Reece Galbraith, of Rectory Road, in Gateshead, has been charged with two counts of manslaughter and producing cannabis in connection with the explosion. He is also charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis. The 33-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charges at Newcastle Crown Court in January.
Galbraith, who appeared in court on a video link from prison, was told he will stand trial on May 12, with the case expected to take around seven days. He was further remanded in custody.
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