‘Prayers are needed’; Father and children who suffered severe burns in Springfield, Ont. fire undergo surgery

A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

“Prayers are needed,” said Anna Woelke, a cousin of the victims. She couldn’t contain her tears when providing an update on the condition of her young cousins on Tuesday morning.

“They talk about their eyes,” said Woelke, when referring to a conversation with her cousin Maria Woelke, the mother and wife of the three victims.

“They are very swollen… and they could crack. It doesn't look very good. They're putting a lot of gel on it with antibiotics and stuff and they're taking care of it, but right now, it doesn't look very good.”

Cornelius Woelke and his children Cornelius Jr. and Jacob (two and a half years old, and one year old) are expected to survive.

The injured father is being hailed a hero after running back into his burning home and emerging with his two young kids in his arms.