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Father and Service Dog Perish in Christmas Boat Fire
16 Jan
Summary
- Army veteran and paramedic Gabriel Murphy died in a Christmas Day boat fire.
- His service dog, Hugo, who supported his PTSD, also perished in the blaze.
- The fire destroyed all belongings, leaving the family to fund funeral costs.
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.
