Hero grandfather dies in Endeavour Hills house fire after saving granddaughter
A beloved Endeavour Hills grandfather has died entering a burning house to save his seven-year-old granddaughter’s life. Neighbours have told of his heroism, as firefighters and the arson squad continue to investigate the blaze.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A grandfather killed in a house fire last night has been remembered as a hero after saving his granddaughter.
Gary van Bree, 71, was living at the Shetland St address in Endeavour Hills with his 27-year-old daughter Natalie and her two children, Kristina, aged seven, and Wyatt, aged four.
Natalie was awake at the time it is believed the fire broke out from the fireplace in the lounge room.
Sophea Mutsaers, a family friend who lives two houses down, said Mr van Bree died trying to save his seven-year-old granddaughter Kristina.
It is understood that he initially left the burning home believing his granddaughter was following him but re-entered the property when he realised she wasn’t.
“He was a kind man and he was actually trying to save his granddaughter at the time of the fire,” Ms Mutsaers said.
“He got her out but unfortunately didn’t get himself out.
She said it was lucky Natalie was awake at the time or things could have ended even more tragically.
“The kids were asleep and the mother was awake luckily,” she said.
“She got the kids out of bed and the grandfather yelled at the granddaughter to get out of the house.”
She added: “We thought it was this house (next door) on fire but when we came out the front, it was actually this house (two houses down) and it was pretty bad.”
Ms Mutsaers said Mr van Bree had been suffering from ill health for quite some time.
“He was quite unwell,” she said.
“He’s suffered pretty bad with cancer and just had a lot of health issues.”
The family had been living at the address for a long time and Ms Mutsaers said they were highly regarded in what is a tight-knit community.
As to how Mr van Bree should be remembered, Ms Mutsaers said: “I think he’s a hero and I think that’s how he should be remembered.”
She has started a Go Fund Me page to help the family cover funeral costs and living expenses while they put their lives back together.
“Obviously they’ve got nothing left after this fire and it’s a really tragic thing to happen to anyone,” she said.
“All the neighbours I’m sure are going to get behind us here and see how we can go about getting this family some help and hopefully cover the costs of Gary’s funeral.”
MORE NEWS:
HEARTBREAKER CONMAN RIPPED OFF OWN MUM
TAXPAYERS COUGH UP FOR WASTE CRISIS CLEAN-UP
SPORTS LOVERS WIND AS TICKET FEE AXED
Firefighters and the arson squad have been at the scene of the house fire for most of the morning.
The brick property looks as though it has been completely gutted by the fire from the outside.
Next door neighbour Helmut Hofmayer said he was at the back of his house when he noticed the fire.
“I was in the backside (of the house) having a smoke and I have seen over the fence that from one room there are flames coming,” he said.
“I quickly went inside and called my wife and told her to call the fire brigade.”
He said by the time he saw the blaze it was too late to do anything.
“It was looking like the whole room was already on fire,” he said.
Mr Hofmayer said the thought of the fire engulfing his own house wasn’t on his mind.
“I think that was the last of my worries,” he said.
“I was thinking myself and my wife to get out and also that the fire brigade were alarmed and were coming to finish this all off.”
He said he felt sad that his neighbour had passed away but knew he was suffering from bad health.
Mr Hofmayer also said Mr van Bree was a good neighbour.