Melbourne man who pulled father from fire speaks of heartbreak following dad’s death
A Melbourne man who was badly burnt trying to save his father from a house fire has spoken to 9News after his father succumbed to his injuries.
Zac and his family have described their late father, Travis, as a wonderful, loving father and footy fanatic.
“He was just the kindest soul ever he would help anyone in a heartbeat anyone,” Zac said of his father.
“I love him so much and I’ll miss him for the rest of my life and he’ll always be in my heart.”
Travis’ Melton South home erupted into flames last Friday.
He was living with a brain tumour and surgery had left him unable to use the left side of his body.
He couldn’t escape the fire alone so Zac did all he could to save his father.
“He’s screaming for help and I just tried to drag him and I just couldn’t cause it was dead weight,” Zac recalled.
Travis was badly burnt and died in hospital on Monday.
Today would have been his 42nd birthday.
Zac is still covered in burns and battling infection.
“My body is eight per cent burnt, I had blisters everywhere,” he said.
Travis’ family is heartbroken.
His mother, Marlene, is still struggling to comprehend the loss.
“I’m in shock still, I’m empty, I’m lost, I don’t know how I’m going to live without him,” she said.
Travis’ brother, Michael Dale, said he loved his children more than anything.
“You see the smile in the photos with him and his kids, you see how proud he was of them.”
Zac will spend at least another two and half weeks at The Alfred Hospital.
On Wednesday, he will undergo surgery again to receive skin grafts.
