12/04/2007
Firefighter 'prevented from calling for help'
A part-time firefighter who died during a blaze was prevented from calling for help because of his breathing apparatus, an inquest has heard.
Father-of-five Joe McCloskey, 50, from Dungiven, County Londonderry fell through the roof of a storeroom at the Gorteen House Hotel in Limavady in November 2003.
Mr McCloskey, who was the first firefighter to die in the line of duty in eight years, died a day after the incident. He had sustained severe burns.
The inquest in Londonderry was told a fellow firefighter, Stephen Loughlin, was helping Mr McCloskey make a hole in the roof using sledgehammers when he fell through the roof.
It is understood the victim’s calls for help could not be heard because of his breathing apparatus. He was not in possession of a radio.
The inquest continues.
(JM/KMcA)
Father-of-five Joe McCloskey, 50, from Dungiven, County Londonderry fell through the roof of a storeroom at the Gorteen House Hotel in Limavady in November 2003.
Mr McCloskey, who was the first firefighter to die in the line of duty in eight years, died a day after the incident. He had sustained severe burns.
The inquest in Londonderry was told a fellow firefighter, Stephen Loughlin, was helping Mr McCloskey make a hole in the roof using sledgehammers when he fell through the roof.
It is understood the victim’s calls for help could not be heard because of his breathing apparatus. He was not in possession of a radio.
The inquest continues.
(JM/KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.