Brody Rouse: Wangaratta fire victim remains critical

A Wangaratta diesel mechanic is recovering in hospital after suffering serious burns during a shed fire that killed his dog.

Brody Rouse.

Friends of a Wangaratta man seriously injured in a horrific fire that killed his dog, say he “would do anything for anyone”.

Brody Rouse, 21, was flown to Melbourne hospital after he suffered serious burns to his upper body on June 17.

He is recovering in hospital but remains in a critical condition with burns to 45 per cent of his upper body.

Emergency services were called to the shed Mr Rouse lives in on Raymond St about 6pm with the building engulfed in flames.

Mr Rouse, an apprentice diesel mechanic, was treated by paramedics and flown to The Alfred in Melbourne in a serious but stable condition.

But his medical bills and recovering the belongings he lost is adding up.

His close friend Brielle Ross has started a GoFundMe page hoping to raise $15,000 to help cover the costs.

“He lost everything. He lost his dog, his clothes, TV, bed, linen, photos,” Ms Ross said.

“He is obviously going to need some help mentally and physically and buy some new things.

“Rather than rushing back to work because we don’t want him to put stress on his body and slow down the healing process.”

Ms Ross said Brody would be heartbroken by the loss of dog.

“It will be hard when he gets out (of hospital) but we will all be there to support him,” she said.

Brody Rouse lost his beloved dog Roy in the fire.

Ms Ross said she and her fiance Tony Missen only met Mr Rouse a year ago but had been best friends since.

She said Mr Rouse was the type of person to do anything to help anyone, and was always smiling.

“He’s one of my best mates, we’ve only known him a year but we’ve become really close and he’s the best man at my wedding coming up,” she said.

Ms Ross said she was devastated when she found out Mr Rouse had been injured.

Her partner was one of the first on the scene and Ms Ross said when he arrived, Mr Rouse was standing in a cold shower waiting for paramedics to arrive.

“I was devastated,” she said.

“My fiance found out first and went over there and sat with him while he was in the shower to cool the burns down.”

Ms Ross said Mr Rouse was still at the burns ward in hospital in Melbourne.

She said no one had been able to see him due to Covid and the risk of infection.

“Hopefully tomorrow we will find out what’s happening and what the next steps are,” she said.

The GoFundMe has raised more than $3000.

“If people can keep donating that would be great,” Ms Ross said.

“The money will be all sent to Brody for him to use.”