Northern Ireland

Man dies after house fire on outskirts of west Belfast

The scene of a house fire in Twinbrook. Picture by Mal McCann
The scene of a house fire in Twinbrook. Picture by Mal McCann The scene of a house fire in Twinbrook. Picture by Mal McCann

A man in his 60s has died after a house fire on the outskirts of west Belfast.

The blaze happened in a ground floor flat on Gardenmore Road in the Twinbrook area on Monday at around 10pm.

The man, who has been named locally as Eugene McKee, was rescued and treated at the scene of the fire, but later died.

The blaze is being treated as accidental.

A relative of the fire victim, Charlene Nellins, has described how he had been in ill health in recent months.

"When we got there after 10pm, the windows were all black and the fire alarm was going off," she told the Andersonstown News.

"There was black smoke everywhere. I think his mattress was on fire.

"He had just had a heart attack and was recently in hospital. He was in poor health so his mobility wasn't great.

"Myself, his son and his friends had to try and drag him out. He was a dead weight.

"When we got him outside, I just knew that he was gone."

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) spokesperson said crews attended the scene following "reports of a fire in a ground floor flat".

"Firefighters initially performed CPR prior to arrival of emergency service colleagues from NI Ambulance Service," he said.

"Firefighters ensured the fire was extinguished and the scene made safe while continuing to support NIAS throughout the incident. 

"At this stage the cause of the fire is being treated as accidental."

The scene of a house fire in Twinbrook. Picture by Mal McCann
The scene of a house fire in Twinbrook. Picture by Mal McCann The scene of a house fire in Twinbrook. Picture by Mal McCann

A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police can confirm that a man in his 60s has died following a fire at a flat in the Gardenmore Road area of Dunmurry on Monday, June 26.

"Police were notified of the fire around 10.15pm and attended along with colleagues from other emergency services. 

"Police are conducting enquiries on behalf of the coroner.

"At this stage, the death is not being treated as suspicious."