Father and Service Dog Perish in Christmas Boat Fire

In a devastating Christmas Day incident, Gabriel Murphy, a 43-year-old Army veteran and paramedic, and his five-year-old service dog, Hugo, lost their lives in a fire aboard their canal boat in Greater Manchester. The blaze occurred in the early hours of December 25th on the Leeds to Liverpool Canal near Crooke Marina in Wigan. Emergency services responded swiftly to the fire, but tragically, both Gabriel and Hugo were discovered deceased at the scene.

Gabriel, also known as Philip, was a dedicated paramedic for the North West Ambulance Service and relied on Hugo for support with his PTSD stemming from his military service. His eldest daughter, Juliette, expressed profound grief, stating the fire not only claimed her father and his loyal companion but also destroyed all their belongings and keepsakes. This loss has left the family without physical memories of Gabriel.

Due to Gabriel's relatively young age, there was no life insurance or funeral plan in place. Juliette has initiated an online fundraiser to cover funeral costs and provide support as she navigates this traumatic loss. In a poignant detail, Hugo, the service dog, was cremated, and his ashes were mistakenly discarded by a charity, preventing the father and dog from being laid to rest together as Juliette had hoped.