TRIBUTES have poured in to a “loving husband” and “adoring father” who died after a fire in his Wealdstone home.

Santosh Benjamin-Muthiah, known to friends as Ben, passed away in hospital on Sunday after more than three days in intensive care following the blaze at his home in Grant Road at 4am on Thursday.

Wife Jennifer survived and remains in hospital while daughters Anna, three, and Rachel, three months, were passed out of windows on the first floor to neighbours outside.

The two children are safe and well and are staying with friends in Harrow.

Ian Webber, secretary of Wealdstone Baptist Church, said: “At Wealdstone Baptist Church we have been privileged to share fellowship with our friend and brother Santosh Benjamin, known to us as Ben.

“His love of music and the Bible inspired him to play an active part in the life of the church, serving as a Deacon and Elder, leading services, playing in our worship band and preaching.

“More recently we have had the joy of getting to know Jennifer, and subsequently their beautiful daughters Anna and Rachel.

“The loss of Ben will leave a gaping hole at the heart of our church.

“We can never replace him but only learn from his example as a devoted husband; a proud father; a loving son; a respected Elder; an inspiring worship leader; a talented musician; a gifted preacher; a conscientious worker; an unassuming servant; a willing helper; a faithful follower of Jesus; a much loved and sorely missed Christian friend and brother.

“We continue to pray for Jennifer's recovery as she remains in Intensive Care in St Mary's Hospital.”

James Richard, his father-in-law, said: “Santosh has been a man of God. He has served the Lord with faithfullness while he was here on this Earth.

“He was a wonderful ambassador of Christ, a loving husband to Jennifer, a loyal son, an ideal son-in-law to me, and an adoring father to his two beautiful children.

“He was an elder in the church and from his youth he was involved in spreading the message of Christ.

“We pray for his soul to rest in peace and we pray that the family will overcome this tragedy and continue to love God.”

Herbert Roy came from the same home town as Santosh and stayed with him in the UK in 1999 to 2000.

He said: “Though we met as strangers, as we spent time together we discovered that we had the same friends, same faith, same values.

“This was pre-Facebook days. I realized that this was a very gentle giant. I know Jennifer, his wife too who is my friend's sister which bonded us all the more.

“Santosh had the perfect life in many ways, even in his death he was perfect.”

Around six fire engines and 30 firefighters fought the blaze in the kitchen of the house, and managed to get it under control in around an hour-and-a-half without it spreading beyond the ground floor.

The family were all taken to hospital by ambulance and the cause of the blaze is under investigation.