Return to burning house ends in tragedy

The scene of a fatal house fire at the Housing New Zealand Albert Street Apartments in Otahuhu. Photo / Richard Robinson

A man is dead after he went back inside his burning South Auckland home.

Firefighters were called to the two-storey unit in the Housing NZ Albert St Apartments in Otahuhu just before midnight on Saturday.

Fire safety officer Russell Dickson said one man was found in the kitchen and was pulled outside to be revived.

This was Robert Henderson, who was yesterday in Middlemore Hospital's intensive care unit, described by a staff member as "seriously unwell".

The other man, named by a relative who lived in the complex as sickness beneficiary Pete Johnstone, was found dead in the lounge.

"The message is never go back into the fire because you get overwhelmed by fire," Mr Dickson said.

He said police were investigating and he could not comment further.

"What I am comfortable saying is that we know he went back inside to get something."

The Otahuhu police could not be reached for comment.

Neighbours were yesterday mourning the loss of Mr Johnstone, known by mates as Roy.

"He was a beautiful man with a big heart," said a relative.

"He had no anger but love for everything that moved around him in the world."

The man said it had been a tough year for Mr Johnstone because his wife was killed about nine months ago.

He said Mr Johnstone had gone back inside to save his kittens, which had belonged to his wife, and were his last living memory of her.

The man said Mr Henderson had been cooking a chicken after the pair had been drinking and it caught fire.