A Dannevirke woman who was dragged from a burning house by her neighbour, has died after spending more than a month in hospital.
Patricia Mary Lee Hillman, 37, was home with another woman at around 3am on April 4 when a fire was believed to have started in the kitchen.
Neighbour Clinton
Russell smashed in the front door of the house and crawled through the smoke and heat to the two women.
"I got in there and it felt like a million degrees ... I could hear them screaming, but when I got in there I thought 'Oh no, can I get back out again?'."
Having lived in the house 15 years earlier he was able to navigate, reaching both women before smashing a bedroom window to create an exit.
Mr Russell received a few scratches and singed hairs. but still made it to his 4am shift at the Oringi freezing works.
Both women received burns, with Ms Hillman taken to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition.
She died on Sunday.
Palmerston North CIB Detective Sergeant, Craig Sheridan, said the circumstances surrounding the fire were under investigation.
He said a number of items from the fire were being forensically tested and the scene would be re-examined and witnesses interviewed again.
"My aim is to establish whether or not this death is suspicious."
