Matthew Badger whose daughters were killed dies aged 51

'His death was sudden and peaceful': Matthew Badger, the father who lost all three of his children, in a tragic Christmas Day fire at the home of his ex-wife in 2011, dies aged 51
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Matthew Badger, who lost his daughters in 2011 house fire, has died aged 51
His ex-wife Madonna Badger said the father's death was sudden and peaceful
He was surrounded by family at the time of death but a cause is not yet known
Lily, Sarah and Grace Badger died in the Christmas Day fire in Connecticut
Badger later set up the LilySarahGrace Fund in memory of his daughters

Published: 14:47 EST, 9 February 2017 | Updated: 16:26 EST, 9 February 2017

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Matthew Badger, the father who lost all three of his daughters in a fire at his ex-wife's Connecticut mansion on Christmas Day in 2011, has tragically passed away.

It is not yet clear how the 51-year-old died but those close to him say it was sudden and peaceful.

The news of his death was revealed on Thursday by the charity Badger set up to honor his little girls - nine-year-old Lily and seven-year-old twins Sarah and Grace.

His ex-wife Madonna Badger said in a statement: 'He was a wonderful man with a generous heart. He was an amazing Dad to his girls, Lily, Sarah and Grace. His death was sudden and peaceful.

'He is with his children and his parents and his brother, Mark. Please send him light and love. My heart is broken But also joyous that they are together.'

Badger was living in a two bedroom rental in New York's Battery Park City before he died. He was believed to be in a relationship with Abby Ballin who he co-founded the LilySarahGrace Fund charity with.

Matthew Badger, the father who lost his three daughters Lily, Sarah and Grace in a tragic house fire in Connecticut on Christmas Day in 2011, has passed away aged 51

Matthew's ex-wife Madonna Badger took to Facebook saying the father-of-three's death was sudden and peaceful

Richard Cambria, executive director of the charity, told the New York Post that Matthew died surrounded by family members. He would not reveal the cause of death.

Badger was living in New York when the fire broke out in 2011 at his ex-wife's home in Stamford, Connecticut where his daughters were spending Christmas Day.

The couple's three daughters and Madonna's parents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson, all perished in the horrific blaze. Madonna and her boyfriend Michael Borcina both survived.

Badger said in a 2012 interview that the loss of his little girls had devastated him.

'It ended my life,' he told People magazine. 'I'm a father... I wasn't there to save them.

'If I don't cry every day, the waves are bigger,' he said. 'If I cry every day, it is less dramatic. I don't think the loss is ever going away.'

Badger added that he was especially troubled when he thinks of the girls suffering in their last moments as they dashed through the home, looking for an escape route.

Badger's three daughters Lily, Sarah and Grace were killed when a fire tore through their mother Madonna Badger's mansion on Christmas Day in 2011

Matthew and Madonna Badger, pictured at their children's funeral in New York, were going through a divorce at the time

Authorities said embers in a bag of discarded fireplace ashes started the blaze. They had been discarded by Borcina because the girls were worried Santa wouldn't be able to get down the chimney.

Firefighters arrived on the scene just six minutes after neighbors reported the fire, but they were unable to save those trapped.

Two of the girls were found on the second floor; their other sister died just feet from escaping through a window.

No criminal charges were filed as a result of the deaths.

Fire and city officials said at the time the house should not have been occupied and the fire alarms weren't activated.

Badger later filed a wrongful death against the city and Borcina - who was the contractor renovating the home - claiming the house had become a fire trap.

Borcina and his company settled the lawsuit in 2014 for $5 million.

Unable to return to his job as television commercial director following the fire, Badger created the charity in the girls' memories.

He co-founded it with his girlfriend Abby Ballin who was with him when he was told his children had died.

The non profit organisation works to bring arts education into public schools as the Badger girls, who were all dyslexic, loved art.

'We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Matthew Badger,' the LilySarahGrace Fund said in a statement on Thursday.

'When LSG first started, it was to honor the lives and memories of Matthew's daughters. While our hearts are broken, we are honored and committed to carrying on Matthew's legacy.'

The news of Matthew's death was revealed on Thursday by the charity he set up to honor his little girls - nine-year-old Lily and seven-year-old twins Sarah and Grace