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An 11-year-old schoolboy who tragically died in a house fire in Barking has been named as Daniel Ajayi and is described by his year head as a “kind and gentle student” who “was a great friend”. Daniel, a Year 7 student at Riverside School, sadly died after a fire in Stern Close, Barking, on March 7.

The fire started in the early morning, just before 3:25 am, in a three-bedroom apartment on the second floor of a building on the cul-de-sac. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) spent just under two hours fighting the flames.

Two more children were rushed to hospital, along with two adults. A man was also treated at the east London scene. The four people in the hospital, whose ages and sexes are not yet known, are in non-life-threatening conditions.

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MyLondon previously reported that the victim had been named as ‘Daniel’, but his full name has now been revealed. Daniel’s school and Daniel’s friends created a GoFundMe to support the family who hope to “help them rebuild their lives.” Councilor Darren Rodwell, Barking and Dagenham council leader who supports the school’s efforts, said: “I support Riverside School who are raising money to support the family of Daniel Ajayi who sadly lost his life in a fire in a house.

“I am proud to know that the school will be donating £2,000 from their charity fund and am delighted that members of our community have come together to support the family at what is an extremely difficult time.”

Paying tribute, Daniel’s Head of the Year at Riverside School, Victoria Aldis, told MyLondon: “Daniel was a kind and gentle student who was a great friend and used to make everyone laugh. He was eager to be involved in all aspects of school life, playing soccer every break and being a key part of the eco club.

“Staff and students remember him as a gentle comedian, always putting a smile on everyone’s face, whether it’s making a silly joke or comforting someone when they’re lonely. Though his time is short, he is the example perfect. of how the impact one person has on others is not simply measured by time.”

At the time, a hero neighbor described catching two children as a woman threw them off the burning property during the fire. Gediminas Radzevicius, 39, a painter and decorator who lives on a neighboring property, rushed to help when the fire broke out.

He described how he woke up to the sound of the fire alarm and began knocking on doors until the smoke became too much. He pulled his family out of him when his wife started screaming that there was a woman trying to get her children to safety.

Police are still waiting for a full forensic investigation to take place to establish the exact cause of the fire, the force told MyLondon on Monday (March 20). Once this investigation is concluded, it is likely that a report will be prepared for the East London Coroner’s Court to conduct an inquest into Daniel’s death.

The coroner’s service confirmed that it is conducting a “preliminary investigation” but has not formally opened an inquiry.

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