He wanted to get his dog out of a burning apartment – ​​and died himself in the process: A man from Hamminkeln in North Rhine-Westphalia paid dearly for his rescue attempt on Tuesday evening. Despite attempts at resuscitation, the life of the 74-year-old could no longer be saved. According to police reports from the early morning, he probably died as a result of smoke inhalation. The dog didn't survive either.

The residents of the two-family house initially left the building in good time after the fire broke out on Tuesday evening. Before the fire department arrived, the 74-year-old ran back into the burning apartment to save his dog from the flames, a police spokesman said.

In addition to four slightly injured residents, two firefighters with smoke inhalation came to the hospital. The fire was eventually extinguished. The cause of the fire was initially unclear.