Prominent refugee advocate Kaileshan Thanabalasingham is in a critical condition after a South Auckland fire claimed members from three generations of his family. His 5-year-old son, 39-year-old wife and her 66-year-old mother died in the fire at the Plantation Ave in Flat Bush.

His 11-year-old daughter and father-in-law managed to get out of the blaze and have now both been discharged from Middlemore Hospital.

"It's an absolute tragedy for Kailesh and his family. He is really an exceptional person."

The Refugees as Survivors New Zealand members behind the fundraising page say Thanabalasingham's daughter and father-in-law have been left badly shocked by the ordeal.

"Refugees as Survivors New Zealand are involved because we respect and admire Kailesh for his work with asylum seekers and refugees in the community. If anyone was in trouble, day or night, he would help them.

"The least we can do is to help him in his hour of need."

The group says their badly injured friend and advocate now faces huge expenses including funeral, medical and practical costs. As a sign of their love for him they were reaching out to the community to help a man who has given so much to others.

Family friend Sivaram Anandasivam said Thanabalasingham was a pillar of the Sri Lankan and wider ethnic communities and the news of the tragedy had stunned everyone.

"We are all very upset," said Anandasivam.

"Everyone is gathering at the hospital hoping for the best."

The injured father-in-law and his wife who died in the blaze were Canadian citizens. Extended family were now flying from Canada to New Zealand to support those who had survived the tragedy.

Refugee Council of New Zealand vice president Colin Henry had heard about the fire but didn't realise Thanabalasingham was involved until the media called at midday yesterday.

Henry said he was "at a loss for words".

"It is horrible for anyone, but when you know the person it has a particularly profound impact."

Henry said Thanabalasingham was deeply passionate about refugee rights.

"He pretty much ran the administrative side of the council and ensured everything was shipshape."

Some of his notable work included successfully advocating for the increase of the refugee quota, which will begin in 2018. He also pushed for permission for more than one person in a family of asylum seekers to obtain a work permit while waiting for the determination of their refugee application. Previously only one family member was allowed a work permit.

Henry said the family were going to need a lot of support to help them through this tragedy.

"The Sri Lankan community are rallying around and providing the immediate housing needs of the daughter."

It emerged Thanabalasingham's daughter bravely escaped the blaze to tell firefighters people were trapped inside.

Police said they were continuing a scene examination of the home and the deaths would be referred to the coroner.

They do not believe the fire was suspicious, but the cause was still unknown.

The Fire Service are investigating.

Donate to the family here.

- NZ Herald