The man who has been named locally as Gary McCarthy (62) died in hospital after a fire broke out at his home in Greemount on Noonan’s Road shortly after 3:30 am after the blaze was called in by a Bord Gáis employee.
The Cork City Fire Brigade (CCFB) arrived at the scene at 3:37 am, four minutes after receiving the call.
Upon arrival, the crew donned oxygen masks and bravely forced their way into the home.
They discovered a man in his 60s lying unconscious inside, and he was removed from the home as firefighters worked to get the incident under control.
Members of the CCFB worked to resuscitate the casualty while waiting for National Ambulance Service personnel to arrive.
Once paramedics arrived on the scene, they took over the treatment, and the man was rushed to Cork University Hospital. Sadly, he was pronounced dead sometime later.
Locals said that Mr McCarthy was an absolute gent who was devoted to his grandchildren. He was also a huge Leeds United supporter.
Gary McCarthy
News in 90 Seconds – Monday, November 24
Paying tribute in an emotional social media post Mr McCarthy’s son Dylan wrote ‘’Goodbye for now dad I love you’’. ‘
’Weird to think we won’t see him walk through our door or hear his voice again, love you dad until we meet again my friend’’.
While his niece Rebecca Jones posted ‘’Rest in peace uncle gar you’ll be missed dearly thinking of all your family at this difficult time’’
A neighbour wrote ‘’he was an absolute gent, thinking of you all’’. While another wrote ‘’So sorry to hear bro he was a gentleman. Greenmount won’t be same without him’’.
His local Gallows Bar posted ‘’The most awful news imaginable today, rest in peace to a dear friend and neighbour to all who knew him, many great memories with Gary and his family, who are all in our thoughts now as they try to process what’s happened.
“Our community spirit is needed here to support them at this incredibly difficult time’’.
A spokesperson for the Cork City Fire Brigade said “A male in his 60s has died following a house fire on Noonan’s Road last night.
“The fire was reported by an employee of Bord Gáis, and the fire service arrived on the scene within four minutes.
“When they arrived, they forced their way inside the home and found a man in his 60s lying unconscious.
“The casualty was recovered, and crews began trying to resuscitate him while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
“The casualty was then handed over to the care of the National Ambulance Service, who treated him at the scene before transporting him to Cork University Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
“Garda Forensic Investigators are at the scene this morning, and the property has been sealed off.”
No funeral arrangements have been made as yet.