LABUAN: A man died from smoke inhalation after rescuing his neighbours from a fire at a house in Merinding Garden early today.
Gillian Donald, 41, rescued the family of seven, including children and an elderly, using a ladder, but later collapsed.
Labuan police chief Supt Mohd Hamizi Halim revealed that Donald was believed to have inhaled excessive fumes during his rescue operation.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire originated from a car parked in the house garage, quickly spreading to engulf the residence where the family was still asleep at 4am, he said.
The Fire and Rescue Department responded promptly to a distress call received at 4.06am, dispatching an engine with several firefighters to the scene. --BERNAMA