Son’s desperate effort to save father from Cranbrook fire
Cranbrook Fire Department.
By Salim Jiwa
CRANBROOK, B.C. – A desperate attempt by a son to pull his father out of a flaming home failed to save the life of an 83-year-old amputee.
Police say the tragedy unfolded on Jim Smith Lake Road shortly after midnight on Wednesday when flames engulfed a home in which Claude Thompson lived with his wife, who is also in her 80s.
“On arrival, they (fire department) were advised that there had been two occupants inside the house when the fire broke out, a married couple, both in their 80s,” said Cpl. Chris Faulkner.
“ The female managed to escape the residence, but her husband, who is an amputee, couldn’t, despite the efforts of their son who arrived on the scene and pulled his father through a bedroom window,” said Faulkner.
Lieutenant Ed Swanson of the Cranbrook Fire Department said he’d known Thompson for over 40 years.
“As long as I’ve known him for the 40 plus years he has always had a wooden leg,” said Swanson. “He worked as a logger out in the bush all his life and he was a very hard working, very honest man.”
“His wife was able to get out and their son lives right next door so he was alerted somehow,” said Swanson. “He couldn’t get in so he broke a window and dragged him out.”
Swanson said he understood the senior’s bed was near the window of his bedroom. Swanson said it is possible Thompson was asleep at the time the fire broke out.
‘When we got on the scene we tried medical aid but he was unfortunately gone by then,” he said. “It is just very tragic.”
Faulkner said RCMP think the victim died from smoke inhalation.
RCMP and fire investigators returned to the home at daylight on Wednesday and determined a wood stove may be responsible for the blaze.
The B.C Coroner’s Service has been called in to investigate the death, but it is not considered suspicious at this time.
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Posted by Salim Jiwa
on Feb 3 2010. Filed under Featured.
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