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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Victoria Williams & Sara Odeen-Isbister

Distington house fire: Hero dog missing after alerting family to blaze that killed two

The search is on to find a hero puppy who alerted his family to a devastating fire that killed two people.

Black Labrador Ged disappeared from his home following the blaze that tore through the terraced house in Distington, West Cumbria yesterday morning (May 22).

An appeal to help reunite Ged with his "heartbroken" owner has been launched by Mackenzie Leder, who helps search for lost dogs.

The 28-year-old said: "Ged was the hero in this. He alerted the family to the fire. We are desperately trying to bring him home. If anyone has any information please do get in touch."

The tragedy happened at Toll Bar Houses in the Cumbrian village of Distington early Sunday morning. Police received a report shortly before 5am.

Officers confirmed a 58-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl died at the scene.

It is understood Ged bolted after the blaze tore through the home and Mackenzie has launched an appeal on Facebook in the hope he will be found.

In a Facebook post she said: "Ged, the family's dog is still sadly missing from the fire please please can everyone here keep a look out for him in the DISINGTON /LILLYHALL/WORKINGTON area.

An appeal has been launched in the hope Ged will be reunited with his "heartbroken" owner (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

"He will be in survival mode and likely laying low somewhere. If you're heading out to have a look if can spot him please remember- no calling/shouting his name, no following him with cars and please no loud or sudden movements if you do spot him. Please just take a picture and note down your location.

"We've been out all day covering immediate areas with the Pulsar and the Drone but sadly nothing. His heartbroken owner is desperate to have him back."

The cause of the fire is being investigated, the fire service said (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

Anyone with information is urged to contact Mackenzie whose details are on her Facebook page.

Following the fire, Cumbria Police released a statement which said: "Police were called at 4:47am today (22 May) with a report of a house fire at Toll Bar Houses.

"A 58-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl, both from Distington, died at the scene of the fire.

"Police and Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service are working together to investigate the potential cause of the fire."

There has been an outpouring online with social media users sending their thoughts and condolences (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

There has been an outpouring online, with many residents on social media sending their thoughts to the friends and family of those affected.

On Facebook, one person wrote: "Life is so cruel at times very sad news my heart goes out to the family who have lost loved ones."

John Beard, chief fire officer of Cumbria fire and rescue, who visited the scene, spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria yesterday morning.

He said: “We’ve still got crews on scene at the moment and we were faced with a really serious fully developed fire on arrival so the crews had a really challenging incident to deal with.

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