Man Dies Trying To Save Dog From Fire

[MarieC]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/19/2931395.htm

An elderly man has died this morning after trying to save his dog during a fire at his home at Lithgow, in the New South Wales Blue Mountains.

Fire fighting crews arrived at the scene shortly after a call was made to 000.

The fire brigade says the man in his sixties was outside the burning home at around 12:30am, but Superintendent Chris Jurgeit says the man then went back inside to try and save his dog.

"The moral of this story I guess is not to go back in after anything, after you've managed to get out of your house," he said.

I know what you're saying Superintendent but sorry there is no way I wouldn't at least give saving my dog from my burning house one good go.

RIP Lithgow man and his dog

[OSoSwift]

RIP heroic person. Poor little dog.

[dianed]

I think you will find the dog survived,it was out the back yard. See other threads, its in the Lithgow Pound. Hope it gets a blanket to it warm.

[Clastic]

Poor man.. RIP

[HugUrPup]

The poor but heroic man. May he rest in peace

[MarieC]

I think you will find the dog survived,it was out the back yard.

That's even more heart breaking ... now the poor dog will live out his life without the owner who obviously loved him immensely

[OSoSwift]

Yes I saw the dog survived, poor thing will be so scared.

[waterloo]

Yes I saw the dog survived, poor thing will be so scared.

Lithgow pound is a cold and dismal place for this poor whippet, who has lost his master. I hope someone comes forward to rescue him.

[Katdogs]

In the thread in Rescue it's said that the poor dog is being cared for away from the pound, and family will need to be involved in decisions about the future. There have been a lot of offers of help.

[HollyMilo]

Oh how sad

RIP.

[Moselle]

I think you will find the dog survived,it was out the back yard.

That's even more heart breaking ... now the poor dog will live out his life without the owner who obviously loved him immensely

How tragic. May that poor man find peace wherever he may be (I personally believe there is life after death). I do so hope that his dog will find a beautiful home where he will be loved just as much as his previous owner so obviously loved him.

[spottychick]

That is so tragic - I really wish I hadn't read about it That poor poor lovely man - so unnecessary

[Andrea]

Just letting everyone know that Trim the Whippet is going to be taken in by Mr Breen's remaining family.

the Article below is from Saturday's local paper.

http://www.lithgowmercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/fire-spread-from-bedroom/1864689.aspx

Fire spread from bedroom

LEN ASHWORTH

22 Jun, 2010 08:19 AM

TREVOR Breen’s best mate and constant companion was his whippet dog named ‘Trim’.

When the home they shared in Ferro Street, Lithgow, erupted in flames in the early hours of Saturday Trevor’s first — and final — thought was to save his mate.

It was a selfless act of puppy love that was to cost him his life. Trevor went back into the burning house and never returned. His lifeless body was recovered by firefighters and defied the efforts of

rescuers to revive him.

Meantime, in the final irony, ‘Trim’ had escaped the house and was safe in

the yard while the life and death drama unfolded.

Around 12.30 am on Saturday 64 year old Mr Breen called the Triple 0 operator

to seek urgent fire brigade assistance.

He said his house was on fire and he was going back inside to try to find his

dog. He was warned to stay safely clear of the fire until the brigades arrived but

the concern for the missing dog was too much.

Lithgow and Lithgow West firefighters were quickly on the scene and within

minutes a team wearing breathing apparatus entered the house, battling thick

smoke and various materials obstructing some of the doorways.

They found Mr Breen lying on the floor in the living room where he had

apparently been overcome by smoke inhalation.

He was quickly carried outside but paramedics were unsuccessful in a

desperate attempt to revive him.

By this time the fire had spread from the front room to the roof.

The brigades had the fire under control in less than half an hour but

extensive damage had been caused to the brick cottage.

At first light senior fire investigators were joined by forensic police from

Bathurst seeking to find the cause of the deadly blaze.

It was determined that the fire had started in the front bedroom and

investigators said yesterday afternoon it was now believed the cause of the

blaze had been a cigarette dropped on to newspapers.

Mr Breen was an invalid pensioner who regularly required the use of a walking

frame to assist him in getting about. On Saturday morning the walking frame was

lying among charred rubble on the front lawn.

But there was to be one more cruel and peculiar twist to the sad story; late

on Saturday night, almost 24 hours after the fire another blaze was reported in

the same house.

Firefighters returned to the scene and this time found a pile of old

newspapers and magazines in a second bedroom had caught alight, possibly after

smouldering unnoticed all day.

This second fire was quickly extinguished.

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner.

* FOOTNOTE: It was not Mr Breen’s first encounter with a life threatening

house fire.

Some years ago he narrowly escaped from a fire in a residence he was

occupying at the time in a two storey terrace in Waratah Street.

This time around there was no such escape.

[labsrule]

Update story - so sad how this poor dog is pining for his deceased owner, RIP Trevor - I so hope Trim's new home provides the love and support this poor boy will need to get him thru this traumatic experience

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-...i-1225883410561

Trevor Breen died for his best friend, Trim

* By Edith Bevin

* From: The Daily Telegraph

* June 24, 2010 12:00AM

TREVOR Breen and his eight-year-old whippet Trim were "devoted" to each other.

It was that devotion that cost the 64-year-old his life when he tried to rescue Trim from a fire that engulfed their Lithgow home last Saturday.

And it is that devotion that is obvious in Trim's eyes as he pines for the friend he will never see again.

The traumatised "one-man dog" is now under round-the-clock supervision and veterinary care until he moves in with his new adopted family.

Lithgow Council ranger Chris Neades said Trim was clearly pining for Mr Breen, who had owned him since he was a pup, and who went back to save him despite using a walking frame.

"They were devoted to each other. That poor man went back in for Trim and you can see Trim is really traumatised and in shock and missing his owner," Mr Neades said.

The bond was so strong that police at the burnt-out house felt compelled to let Trim say a last goodbye.

"He was in the corner when police got there and one of the police said to me it was clear he wanted to get to his owner ... so they let him go," Mr Neades said.

"He got a chance to say a proper goodbye."

Mr Breen, a former De La Salle brother and school teacher, had taught in Papua New Guinea and in Sydney.

He had returned to his hometown of Lithgow about 15 years ago.

Friend Mary White said Mr Breen had continued to tutor disadvantaged youths in his own time and had refused to accept any payment for it.

"He was just a very generous soul," she said.

Helen Roberts, owner of Lithgow Bizzi Paws, used to help groom Trim.

"He was 100 per cent dedicated to Trim," Ms Roberts said.

"Trim adored his owner. You can see the fear in Trim's eyes now Trevor is gone."

[Earthdog]

Very, very sad.