"We had to change tact a little bit. We had a couple [firefighters] supporting him while the others carried on and did what we have to do."
Bennetto said Vithanage had left the firefighter's home just minutes before the tragedy unfolded.
He was on his way to Dunedin, where his wife, Janitha, and two daughters had moved in February. Vithanage's youngest daughter, Nadiru, had been accepted to study at Otago University where her older sister Sandaru was going to continue her science degree.
As the breadwinner for his family, Vithanage had stayed in Putaruru working for VTNZ until he was finally able to transfer to the Queenstown branch, where he was due to start work on Monday.
Chandani Jinadasa, a spokeswoman for the family, said Vithanage was a "fantastic man" with a "big heart and loud laugh".
"He was always willing to help others. He was a loving father and loving husband.
"His family are devastated."
Jinadasa is president of the Sri Lanka Friendship Society Waikato of which Vithanage was a member.
"He was the man who did most of the hard work. It doesn't matter what it was, he would do it."
Vithanage and his family moved to New Zealand from Sri Lanka in 2008.
His funeral will be held on Wednesday in Hamilton.