Firefighter Tom Brown died after suffering a Heart Attack at a house fire in Irvine on Tuesday the 1st of May 2007
FIREMAN, 53 DIES AFTER HOME BLAZE
Heart attack tragedy of Tom
By Natalie Walker
A Firefighter died hours after battling a blaze.
Tom Brown, 53, collapsed after he helped put out the fire at a house.
The fireman, who had 28 years’ experience, was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead hours later
A fire brigade spokesman said Tom, of Troon, Ayrshire, had suffered a heart attack.
He was one of four firefighters who entered the house in Irvine on Tuesday morning wearing breathing apparatus.
Firefighters from his green watch division, based at Kilwinning in Ayrshire, were shocked by Tom’s death.
They told how the fireman collapsed just seconds after coming out of the house.
Colleagues at the scene gave him oxygen as they waited for an ambulance. Brian Sweeney, chief officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, yesterday described Tom as a popular member of staff
He also paid tribute to the three decades of service he gave to the fire service.
Sweeney said “Tom was a very able firefighter and also very popular in the service.
“He was also well known in sporting circles, particularly at Rugby Park where he took photographs for Kilmarnock FC at their home matches.
“His last act was, typically; to protect the community by tackling one of the many house fires he would have encountered in his career.”
Tom’s partner, Natalie, and stepdaughters, Natasha and Jessica, were being comforted by relatives yesterday.
They were too upset to talk about the tragedy.
Tom joined Strathclyde Fire Brigade in February 1979.
He served for 20 years at Johnstone, Renfrewshire, before moving to Kilwinning eight years ago.
Derek Davidson, Tom’s station manager, said the crew had been tackling the last fire of their shift when the firefighter fell ill.
Mr Davidson said: “Everyone at the station is upset about Tom’s death.
“The job he was on was the last one before his crew were due to go off for a few days.”
<PHOTO> Collapse: Fireman Tom. (Colour face photo)
(Daily Record, Friday, May 4, 2007. Page 40)
Tribute to fire hero
Tributes were paid yesterday to a fireman who became ill and died after tackling a house blaze.
Tom Brown, 53, was taken to Kilmarnock’s Crosshouse Hospital after the fire in nearby Irvine on Tuesday but died late yesterday afternoon.
He had been a fireman for 28 years and was based at Kilwinning.
Strathclyde’s chief officer Brian Sweeney said: “Tom was a very able firefighter. We are all shocked by his death.
“Our heartfelt sympathies go to Tom’s partner Natalie, stepdaughters Natasha and Jessica, and the rest of his family.”
(The Sun, Friday, May 4, 2007. Page 18)