Heroic neighbour saves elderly woman, but man perishes in house fire
A courageous neighbour has saved a Brisbane woman from a house fire, but couldn’t reach her partner who perished in the blaze.
The Acacia Ridge home where the fatal fire occurred (ABC)
The neighbour suffered burns to his face and arms when he raced to the couple’s aid.
He rescued a 71-year-old woman from the Acacia Ridge home about 10pm on Thursday.
He returned for a 72-year-old man but was beaten back by the flames.
Police have established a crime scene as experts work to determine the cause of the fire.
The neighbour, 56, and the woman were both taken to hospital in a stable condition. The man has been treated for his burns, and the woman for respiratory issues.
“He continued to try and extinguish the fire and rescue the other occupant of the house. In doing so, he has sustained some minor burns,” a QFES spokesman has told the ABC.
Emergency services were called to the low-set house on Gregory Street at Acacia Ridge just before 10:00pm, where they found part of the house engulfed in fire.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service Inspector Timothy Clark said the 72-year-old man’s body was later found inside the home.
The woman and the neighbour were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Four crews worked to put out the blaze, which was mainly contained to one room.
“They were confronted with flames coming out of a side window and lots of smoke emitting from other windows,” Clark said.
“[There were] a lot of local residents trying to help.”
A crime scene has been established as the cause of the fire is investigated.
-AAP
