Man Dies in Fire While Attempting to Save Dogs’ Lives

Would you risk your life to save your dogs from a burning house? One man in Bermuda did and unfortunately lost his life in the process. Gordon Howard, 67, escaped from his home in Hamilton, Bermuda, along with his wife and two daughters earlier this week. Though he made it out with his life, he then chose to return to the house where his beloved dogs, a German Shepherd named Casey and a Pomeranian named Abby, were still trapped in the blaze, reported the Associated Press.

Friends and family said Howard, a retired businessman, was very attached to his two dogs. At 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, reported BerNews, more than a dozen firefighters came to Howard’s aid. What firemen found was Howard’s collapsed body lying beside that of his two dogs. Paramedics rushed the father of two to King Edward Memorial Hospital where he later died of smoke inhalation. Both dogs died in the fire.

The Royal Gazette newspaper reported that Howard was born in Liverpool, England, came to Bermuda to work as a police officer and later worked in finance. Bill Thompson, Howard’s neighbor, expressed his deep dismay at the loss to The Royal Gazette.

“I am very upset. I mean it is a terrible tragedy, especially the way it is believed to have happened. I know he loved his dogs and that is how he died, trying to save them. It was a very tragic occurrence.”

PHOTOS: dogs.about.com, bernews.com

Linda Chavez

More Posts – Website