Adelaide man Henry Fielke, 74, dies after Gilles Plains house fire

A man has died following a house fire in Adelaide’s north east on Saturday night.

An elderly man remembered as a “top bloke” has died in a devastating house fire despite frantic efforts to save his life.

Neighbours have told of their desperate bid to raise Henry Fielke inside his Edwards Court home in Gillies Plains when they first noticed thick smoke.

Judith Withall, who lives two doors down from Mr Fielke, said she woke shortly before 11.30pm to go to the bathroom and smelled smoke in her house.

She woke her partner who ran outside and saw Mr Fielke’s home ablaze, and yelled for her to call emergency services.

“My other half went out there and noticed the flames coming out,” she said.

“He came running back and told me to ring the fireys so I rang the fireys and then I stood out to the side and I could see the flames coming through (the front yard to the road).

“While I was on the phone to the fireys still I could hear the roof cave in and then, yeah, I stood back and just hoped for the best.

“The neighbours were inside their (homes) and they had to be woken up to get out of their house.

“They tried banging and seeing what they could do. The glass was hot.”

Henry Fielke has been remember as a “top bloke” who was always ready to help his neighbours. Picture: Supplied by family

The remains of the home on Edwards Court, Gilles Plains. Picture: Tara Miko

Another neighbour, William Boyd, was woken by a frantic knock on the door and quickly raced to help.

“We went out banging on his windows to try and get him out but there was no response.”

Emergency services arrived minutes later, smashed the front window to gain access to the brick home and pulled him from the fire.

Mr Boyd was found unconscious inside the unit, and was dragged from the fully-engulfed home to the front lawn where paramedics attempted CPR.

He died at the scene.

The fire completely destroyed Henry Fielke’s home. Picture: Tara Miko

Mr Boyd said the fire was intense, with flames through the roof and radiant heat felt in his own unit.

He was among other residents evacuated from their properties.

Mr Fielke’s grandson Hayden attended the scene early Sunday morning, paying tribute to a grandfather he described as a “sensitive old man”

“He was a sensitive old man … loved to do jokes, he was a great guy,” Hayden told 7News.

“It’s really sad what happened.”

Mr Boyd paid tribute to his long-time neighbour Mr Fielke, describing him as someone who was always willing to help.

“He was a top bloke,” he said.

“If you needed help … well, we would help each other.

“He was a good bloke. He would come over when mum was alive and have drinks with her and they got along pretty well.

“I think everyone got along with him pretty well.”

Ms Withall said she feared what could have happened if she had not woken and smelt the smoke.

“It’s pretty traumatic,” she said.

“I’m just shocked. It’s not something you would expect just by smelling smoke and then going out and see the house is on fire.

“Lucky I did wake up to go to the toilet and smelt the smoke because God knows what would have happened to the neighbours.

“It’s bad enough that poor old man. It’s just traumatic.”

Fire Cause Investigators attended the scene to determine the cause, and have deemed the blaze was not suspicious.

The blaze was contained within 25 minutes with the estimated damage set at $400,000.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.