AN ELDERLY man killed in a house fire in Poole at the weekend is thought to have died attempting to fight the blaze.

Smoke alarms were activated at the home of Justinas Gelumbickas, 83, and his wife Maria in Cynthia Road, Newtown, on Saturday morning.

But despite being urged by fire control room staff to leave the property during the 999 phone call, it is believed Mr Gelumbickas tried to extinguish the fire himself.

Keith Bacon, area manager for Dorset Fire and Rescue, said ringing smoke alarms should always be the trigger for people to get outside a burning building.

He said: "Staying inside a building where smoke alarms are activating can be fatal.

"Unfortunately, and very sadly in this case, we believe the gentleman attempted to fight the fire and tragically lost his life in doing so."

Mrs Gelumbickas, 79, is still in the intensive care unit at Poole Hospital where her condition is described as "poorly but stable".

Her husband died half an hour after the couple were rushed to hospital suffering from burns and the effects of smoke inhalation.

The blaze started in an unused bedroom and an investigation found the cause was likely to have been faulty electrical wiring.

Dorset Fire and Rescue said they had fitted smoke alarms at the Gelumbickas' Poole property only 18 months earlier.

Mr Bacon said: "It is essential to have working smoke alarms in your home, as this couple did.

"However, it is also important to stress that the smoke alarms won't save you once they have activated.

"They are a life-saving early warning system but once they have operated, it is crucial to get out, stay out and call the fire service, preferably from outside."

Mr Gelumbickas' death brings the total number of fire-related deaths in Dorset since the New Year to seven.

Dorset Fire and Rescue is urging home owners to carry out home safety checks and details are available by calling them on 01305 251133 or visiting fire.gov.uk