A FIREFIGHTER who collapsed minutes after putting out a house blaze has died in hospital.
Tom Brown, 53, was one of four firefighters who entered a burning building in Irvine, Ayrshire, on Tuesday.
When the group left the house, Mr Brown, who had been wearing breathing apparatus, became ill.
He was taken to hospital but died the following day. It is understood the cause of death was a heart attack.
Mr Brown, a firefighter since 1979, was a member of Green Watch at the Kilwinning station and he was only hours from finishing his shift for the week when he became ill.
Brian Sweeney, the chief officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said: "Tom was a very able firefighter and also very popular in the service.
"He was also well-known in sporting circles, particularly at Rugby Park where he took photographs for Kilmarnock FC at their home matches.
"Everyone in Strathclyde Fire and Rescue is shocked by Tom's passing.
His last act was, typically, to protect the community by tackling one of the many house fires he would have encountered in his career.
"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Tom's partner, Natalie, stepdaughters Natasha and Jessica, and the rest of his family at this difficult time."
served for 20 years at Johnstone fire station before moving to Kilwinning in 1999.
David Davidson, the Kilwinning station manager, also paid tribute to Mr Brown. He said: "Tom was very popular in the station and the rest of the guys on Green Watch have been very rattled by his death and are now trying to face up to it.
"He was a very diligent and very professional firefighter.
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