Hero dad dies after running back into his burning home to save his elderly mother after it burst into flames
Ray Barrago was killed in a massive fire in western Sydney on Monday
The fire broke out at his home in Blacktown, where his mother also lived
Neighbors said he got out but went back into the burning building to save her
His mother Kora is being treated for smoke inhalation at Westmead Hospital
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A father-of-two described as ‘the epitome of kindness’ has died in a house fire after he heroically ran inside to save his elderly mother.
Ray Barrago, in his 60s, escaped the blaze at his home in Blacktown, western Sydney, but returned to the blaze to grab his mother Kora, who was in her 80s, after the house caught fire about 5am on Monday morning.
Emergency crews arrived shortly after the single-storey house was engulfed in flames and found Mr Barrago and his mother still inside.
Firefighters pulled the two from the house but tragically Mr Barrago died at the scene.
His mother was rushed to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition and has been given the devastating news.
Ray Barrago, in his 60s, escaped the blaze at his home in Blacktown, western Sydney, but returned to the blaze to grab his mother Kora, who was in her 80s, after the house caught fire about 10am.
Neighbors reported seeing ‘towering flames’ after the fire broke out on Monday (pictured)
Sir. Barrago reportedly had to look after his sick mother while his partner was overseas looking after another member of her family.
Residents in the street were woken by the fire and saw ‘towering flames’ through the roof of the house.
They desperately tried to put out the fire with hoses and fire extinguishers before rescuers arrived.
The fire was so intense that it took firefighters two hours to put it out.
Police and firefighters spent much of Tuesday investigating the Blacktown home to find the cause of the fatal fire (pictured)
The fire wiped out one room, while the rest of the house has smoke and water damage.
Neighbors said Mr Barrago made it outside but then turned around and went back inside when he realized his mother was still inside, Nine News reported.
He has been remembered by ‘devastated’ loved ones as ‘humble’ and ‘the epitome of kindness’.
Barrago (pictured) was described as ‘kind and humble’ by loved ones
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Michael Morris said the scene was ‘very confrontational for all the emergency services and the neighbours’.
His colleague Luke Unsworth told 2GB there could also have been a third person pulled from the fire.
“One person was potentially a neighbor. They had entered the property in an attempt to rescue some other people. We’re still trying to piece things together,” he said.
Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Police are both investigating the cause of the fire and anyone with information is asked to contact police.