Elderly man rescued from house fire dies in hospital

Photo / File

An elderly Southland man who suffered burns to most of his body in a house fire on Friday night has died in hospital, police have said today.

The 73-year old, who has not yet been named died in Dunedin hospital last night as a result of his injuries.

A fire broke out in the lounge of the man's Sinclair Ave home in the small Southland town of Nightcaps at around 7.30pm on Friday.

Police and the fire service completed a scene examination yesterday and police say they are "satisfied the fire was accidental and it is not being treated as suspicious".

A neighbour who rushed to the man's aid and pulled him from the burning house has been praised for his bravery.

The matter has been referred to the coroner.

Southern fire communications shift manager Brent Dunn said yesterday that firefighters from Ohai and Nightcaps arrived to find the house ablaze.

They managed to contain the fire to one room of the small house.

But the elderly occupant had "suffered severe burns to at least 80 per cent of his body", Mr Dunn said.