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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Firefighter dies tackling Manchester shop blaze | Firefighter dies tackling Manchester shop blaze |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A firefighter has died tackling a large blaze in Manchester city centre. | A firefighter has died tackling a large blaze in Manchester city centre. |
| Stephen Hunt, 38, was among 60 firefighters called to the fire at the store-room of a shop in Oldham Street. | Stephen Hunt, 38, was among 60 firefighters called to the fire at the store-room of a shop in Oldham Street. |
| A spokesman said he got into difficulty at about 20:35 BST along with another firefighter and both were pulled out and taken to hospital. | A spokesman said he got into difficulty at about 20:35 BST along with another firefighter and both were pulled out and taken to hospital. |
| County Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said: "We are devastated by the loss of one of our colleagues who has died in the line of duty." | County Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said: "We are devastated by the loss of one of our colleagues who has died in the line of duty." |
| Mr Hunt, a father-of-two, based at Manchester's Philips Park Fire Station, was confirmed dead in hospital. | Mr Hunt, a father-of-two, based at Manchester's Philips Park Fire Station, was confirmed dead in hospital. |
| The other injured firefighter is not thought to have life-threatening injuries, a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said. | The other injured firefighter is not thought to have life-threatening injuries, a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said. |
| 'Dedicated firefighter' | 'Dedicated firefighter' |
| The fire broke out in the underground store-room of Paul's Hair World at about 14:50 BST and was still being dealt with on Sunday morning. | The fire broke out in the underground store-room of Paul's Hair World at about 14:50 BST and was still being dealt with on Sunday morning. |
| Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze had been particularly difficult to tackle because of the complex layout of the building and the amount of material inside. | Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze had been particularly difficult to tackle because of the complex layout of the building and the amount of material inside. |
| "We never expect to lose a colleague in this way and it brings home the dangers that our firefighters put themselves in every day to keep the community safe," Mr McGuirk said. | "We never expect to lose a colleague in this way and it brings home the dangers that our firefighters put themselves in every day to keep the community safe," Mr McGuirk said. |
| "Stephen had been a dedicated firefighter since 2008 and we are all in a state of shock." | "Stephen had been a dedicated firefighter since 2008 and we are all in a state of shock." |
| An investigation is being carried out in conjunction with the police to establish the cause of the blaze. Mr McGuirk said at this stage arson was not being ruled out. | An investigation is being carried out in conjunction with the police to establish the cause of the blaze. Mr McGuirk said at this stage arson was not being ruled out. |
| The Merseyside and Lancashire fire services are expected to lead an investigation into the circumstances around Mr Hunt's death. | The Merseyside and Lancashire fire services are expected to lead an investigation into the circumstances around Mr Hunt's death. |
| Firefighters remain at the scene tackling the blaze and Mr McGuirk paid tribute to their "professionalism, courage and dedication" while "mourning" their colleague's death. | |
| Vij Randeniya, president of the Chief Fire Officers Association, said: "We are all devastated by the news". | |
| "We offer our sincere condolences to Stephen's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time." |