LABUAN: The valiant efforts of a man to help put out a fire and save seven members of a family ended tragically when he died from breathing difficulties.
The seven people were his neighbours and the fire broke out at a terrace house in Merinding Garden here along Jalan OKK Daud early today.
In the incident that occurred at 4.17am, Gillian Donald, 41, a local, was found in a very weak state after he had fainted. He was given Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) but could not be saved.
Labuan district police chief Superintendent Mohd Hamizi Halim said the fire occured at a two-storey terrace house.
"Further investigations found that there were seven people in the house, six women and one man, three of them were children and they were saved. They were between four to 67-years-old.
"The brave volunteer who is a neighbour of the victims worked hard and managed to save seven members of the family who were in the house but tragically he died," he said in a statement here today.
According to him, their investigation also revealed that the victim was exhausted and had collapsed.
"CPR aid was given but the victim could not be saved. The medical officer confirmed that the victim died from suspected breathing difficulties due to smoke inhalation.
"The victim's remains will be sent to the Hospital Nukleus Labuan's forensics unit for a post-mortem examination," he said.
He added there were no other injuries on the victim's body and investigations are still ongoing.
"As a result of initial investigations by the Fire and Rescue Department, the cause of the fire is believed to have resulted from one of the vehicles in the house that caught fire and the ensuing fire then spread to the house.
"All the other victims that were saved are in stable condition. Two of them received medical treatment for the injuries sustained," he said.