Laine Clark
A fatal house fire has claimed another victim after a badly burned elderly man succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
The 84-year-old, and a 44-year-old man, had escaped the engulfed two-storey Gold Coast home via the garage after they attempted to rescue a fellow resident on Wednesday.
The two men were critically injured when they tried to break into a locked bedroom and save the person inside but were forced to retreat from the flames.
The body of a 38-year-old man, who is yet to be formally identified, was discovered in the bedroom after firefighting crews took almost two hours to extinguish the fire at the Hope Island home.
Detective Superintendent Chris Ahern confirmed on Wednesday some people in the house were family members, and officers had been called to the address a week earlier over alleged threats.
The 84-year-old and 44-year-old were rushed to hospital with burns to their head, neck, chest, back, arms and legs.
Police confirmed on Thursday morning that the older man, who suffered burns to 50 cent of his body, had succumbed to his injuries in a Brisbane hospital.
The 44-year-old, who suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body, remained in a critical condition, police said.
Two other people – a 59-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man – escaped by jumping off an upper-level balcony.
The woman remained in hospital after suffering a back injury while fleeing the house.
The badly damaged house was declared a crime scene.
If you, or someone you know, needs support you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
AAP, with William Davis
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