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 person, using a ladder, but later collapsed.
Labuan police chief Mohd Hamizi Halim revealed that the man 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’s 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. – January 24, 2024