A MAN who died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at his Co Down home has been named locally as William Stockdale.
The 60-year-old's death is the third attributed to the killer gas in the town of Newcastle in just over a year.
He was found dead at a house on the Castlewellan Road on Friday night.
Four ambulance crews attended the scene, with three other people in the property and two paramedics also treated in the Ulster Hospital in east Belfast for carbon monoxide poisoning.
They were later discharged, with the paramedics last night praised for their bravery.
Police said a multi-agency investigation was underway and a post-mortem examination was due to take place to confirm the cause of death.
It is believed Mr Stockdale was married with grown-up children.
It is understood he had been recovering at home after having stents inserted in his heart, and had initially believed the chest pain and discomfort he was experiencing was due to the operation.
It was suggested that after phoning for assistance, a woman who arrived to help was herself overcome by the gas, before recovering to contact the emergency services.
The death of Mr Stockdale comes a little more than a year since a married couple in their seventies, Francis and Nan O'Reilly, were found dead in a static caravan on the Tullybrannigan Road in Newcastle.
John McPoland, from the Ambulance Service, described the actions of paramedics at Mr Stockdale's home as "unbelievable".
He said: "They undoubtedly saved the lives of themselves and three other people. More remarkable than all that, after they were discharged from hospital they reported back to the station to fulfil the rest of their duties."
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "The HSE is aware of the incident in Newcastle and is working alongside other agencies to help investigate the circumstances. Our thoughts are with the man's family at this most difficult time."
South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said she was "shocked and saddened" at another death from carbon monoxide in the area and urged people to have detectors in their homes.
She added: "We must never forget the daily risk our emergency services take to protect the public. Their bravery must be commended."
Carbon monoxide also caused the death of friends Neil McFerran and Aaron Davidson, both 18 and from Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, in August 2010.
They were overcome by the deadly gas in a holiday apartment in Castlerock, Co Derry.
Gas fitter George Brown (52), from Ballygawley Road in Aghadowey, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing the pair and was jailed for four years in 2014.
