A TATTOO artist says he has lost everything after a fire ripped through his house boat.

Daniel Pascale was visiting relatives when he received a phone call from the fire brigade to tell him his boat in Newhaven had caught fire.

By the time he returned, he was faced with a scene of devastation.

He lived on the boat, a gift from his late grandfather, with his two rescue dogs Daisy and Bruno.

It was also where he kept all his possessions, including his grandfather’s Royal Navy medals from the Second World War, along with his own father’s army medals and family photographs.

All his clothes and his tattoo equipment were also ruined in the flames.

Mr Pascale said: “I’m still shocked. I have lost my passports and clothes. I rushed back but I had to walk through and see all my work gear has gone. It was total devastation.

“It’s even difficult for me to talk about.

“Going back to the boat still makes me well up as I clear stuff up. I’m still tired and it’s emotional.”

Mr Pascale, 44, had lived in the boat for five years before the fire struck on Wednesday, July 11. He had allowed friends to stay over the previous day.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the fire service, who say it may have been a candle or an electrical fault which caused the blaze.

Now he is staying in a caravan while he tries to find a permanent home.

He said he had returned home to live with his mother after getting a divorce, and his grandfather had helped him to buy the house boat.

So far he has received support from the online gaming community, but he is appealing for help to get his life back together and to fund a good home for his rescue dogs.

To find out more or to donate to Mr Pascale’s page visit: www.gofundme.com/fire-made-me-homeless.