Man (58) dies following house fire on the outskirts of Toomebridge

Q Radio news

A man has died in a house fire outside Toomebridge, County Antrim.

The 58-year-old victim was taken to hospital following the blaze at a two-storey farmhouse on the Carlane Road.

Despite attempts by the emergency services to revive him, he passed away a short time later. 

The roadside property is set in the remote staffordstown area.

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The thoughts and sympathies of NIFRS are with the family and friends of a man who died following a house fire last night.

“2 Fire Appliances from Magherafelt Fire Station and 1 Fire Appliance from Antrim Fire Station attended the incident.

“Firefighters encountered a severe fire on the first floor.  Wearing breathing apparatus they entered the property and worked in intense heat and heavily smoke logged conditions to rescue a man in his 50s. 

"Firefighters carried the man down to the ground floor where he was treated at the scene by both Firefighters and ambulance personnel. He was taken to Antrim Area Hospital and sadly later died. 

"5 Firefighters were injured while carrying out the rescue.  4 Firefighters sustained minor burns and were treated at the scene by ambulance personnel - 1 of them required hospital treatment and was later discharged.

" The fifth Firefighter was taken to hospital with concussion due to fallen debris inside the property. He was kept overnight and has since been discharged."

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and will be subject to investigation.

There was a smoke alarm fitted in the property and part of the investigation will consider if it sounded.