This is the “funny, little” five-year-old boy killed in a gas explosion at his family home this week.
Alistair Lamb, his 10-year-old sister Cami and their dad Jacob Cunningham were rushed to hospital following the blast on Wednesday night. Alistair succumbed to his injuries while Cami and Jacob remain in different hospitals.
Emergency services descended on the suburban street in Lexington, Missouri, when neighbours saw flames tear through the property. It is understood a sub-contractor hit a gas pipe behind a business in the area, which led to the disaster.
Speaking today, Alistair’s grandmother Cathie Woods said she is devastated. Cathie, who is Jacob’s mother, added: “For the short time that he (Alistair) was on this Earth, he put a big impact on a lot of people’s hearts. I know on mine specifically, it will be there forever.
“They’re (Jacob and Cami) going to come home, but that doesn’t mean they’re not going to have issues that they won’t have to deal with the rest of their lives.”
The remnants of the Cunninghams’ home are still scattered all across the block, in addition to the several other homes that were affected by the blast. Speaking at the scene on Wednesday, a reporter with KCTV said: “Someone wrote ‘it was a massive explosion that blew out many windows on houses in surrounding blocks.'” Someone said they saw a white flash, and said that this explosion ‘shook the ground.'”
Jacob’s aunt, Nicole Gentry-Lovellette, who also lives in the tight-knit community described Alistair as a popular young boy. She said: “Funny little character is the best way to describe him. Cami was always looking out for him.”
It is the second tragedy the family has endured in recent years. Jacob’s wife, Cami and Alistair’s mother, died in December 2023, and Jacob has raised his children alone since.
Cathie continued: “They’ve had a year’s worth of tragedy, and now this. Alistair was going to start kindergarten next year. Last week, he had just learned how to ride a bike. He loved Spiderman, running around, and being our little five-year-old.”
Cathie has told his son the tragic news Alistair didn’t survive the blast. She is hopeful he and Cami will pull through. Speaking to KSHB, a Kansas City publication, the grief-stricken mum added: “It’s not easy to break your son’s heart.”
Investigations into the cause of the explosion continue. However, authorities are probing the indication a gas pipe was hit in the hours before the blast. The family has set up an account at the Bank of Midwest in Lexington for donations, in addition to a GoFundMe page.
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