Mates mourn fire victim

FRIENDS of a Kangaroo Flat man who suffered burns to almost 70 per cent of his body after falling into a fireplace gathered yesterday at the Kangaroo Flat Hotel to mourn his loss.Phil Cullen died at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne seven hours after he is believed to have fallen into a fireplace in the pub's beer garden.The 49-year-old was surrounded by family when life support machines were turned off early yesterday. Mr Cullen has been described by those who knew him as a "happy go-lucky chap".A friend he had been playing pool with before the accident, Neil McCallum, said Mr Cullen had been mourning his mother, who had recently passed away. "He had just got over that and was kicking back to life again and this happens," he said. "He was a bright spark who would do anything for anybody and was a real good jovial bloke."A keen supporter of the Kangaroo Flat Football Club, Mr Cullen attended games each weekend.Club supporter and gatekeeper Jack White yesterday described Mr Cullen as a "nice-natured fellow who wouldn't hurt a fly"."He'd come along and have his social time and barrack for the club."You want to cry in shame, it's an absolute tragedy," he said.A staff member at the Kangaroo Flat Hotel yesterday said Mr Cullen's friends had gathered at the hotel to try to come to terms with the tragedy."He was a fantastic man," she said. After drinking with Mr McCullum inside the pub on Monday night, Mr Cullen had gone into the beer garden for a cigarette about 7.45pm.He was sitting alone on the fireplace ledge when he fell into the flames.Constable John McIlrath from Bendigo police said a female staff member saw Mr Cullen on fire and used a garden hose to try and extinguish the flames."It appears he was standing there just in shock," Constable McIlrath said."At the time he was on his own so there are no witnesses... (and) he's suffered fairly horrific injuries."Mr Cullen was rushed to Bendigo Hospital before being airlifted to The Alfred Hospital.MICA flight paramedic Calvin Walsh stayed with Mr Cullen as he was flown to Melbourne.He said Mr Cullen was fully conscious when ambulance officers arrived at the scene, but unconscious when flown to Melbourne."He had such severe burns to the face... he had inhaled smoke and heat, which causes swelling in the airways," he said.WorkSafe attended the scene late on Monday night but has cleared the hotel of any wrongdoing.It is believed a guard normally held over the fireplace had been removed earlier in the night to add wood to the fire.Constable McIlrath said police were still investigating whether Mr Cullen fell into the fire, or was sitting close by when he caught alight.There is no video surveillance footage to assist police with their inquiries.Mr Cullen had previously worked as a chicken boner for Hazeldene's Chicken Farm, but was now a builder.He had also worked for the City of Greater Bendigo for 12 months as part of an asphalting crew.City of Greater Bendigo chief executive officer Craig Niemann yesterday said he was saddened to learn of Mr Cullen's death."He enjoyed his work, had a keen work ethic and was a well regarded, conscientious member of the team," he said.A report on Mr Cullen's death will be prepared for the coroner following toxicology results and an autopsy.