Pregnant Newhaven woman who has Covid-19 left homeless after fire destroys home on Christmas Day

Keira Sanded, 31, of Hanson Road, Newhaven, faces months in temporary housing following the devastating blaze which ripped through her kitchen.

Her partner, Wayne Barrett, 31, who was also unwell at the time, took food out of the oven and fell asleep before Keira woke to a ‘crackling sound’ and ‘gushes of black smoke’.

Keira, who is pregnant with her third child, had tested positive for Covid-19 just days before and was self-isolating at her home with Wayne.

This meant she had to spend the festive period away from her two children, Cayden Taylor, 11, and Miley Taylor, nine, who are currently staying with their father.

Keira was also made redundant from her job as a Virgin Atlantic stewardess in September after 13 years in the job – and her dad tragically died from coronavirus the following week.

She told the Express: “I can’t even put it into words – it has been one thing after another.

“I am just very grateful for my life and that we woke up and our baby girl is fine.

“If I had been asleep ten minutes longer it could have been a lot different.”

Keira, who is 21 weeks pregnant, said due to her and Wayne being unwell and not being able to be with her children, Christmas was effectively cancelled.

But the couple decided they ought to still eat and had a joint of beef in the fridge.

“I was completely incapacitated so Wayne took over the cooking,” said Keira.