An inquest has heard an 84-year-old "true bushman" spent the early hours of December 31, 2019 alerting neighbours to an approaching fire before suffering horrendous facial burns as he tried to defend his home.
The NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry heard Ross Rixon died as a result of the Badja Forest fire.
Robert Neil, a friend and neighbour of Mr Rixon's, told the inquiry he had planned to leave his home but fell asleep.
He woke up to the sound of Mr Rixon yelling and beeping his horn out the front of his house.
Mr Neil struggled to get the words out as he told the court of the scene that greeted him at his door.
"It was like hell — there was fire everywhere," Mr Neil said.
'The last I saw of Ross'
Mr Neil managed to escape to the nearby township of Cobargo, where he helped fight fires throughout the pre-dawn hours.
"I went up to the bakery to get some water, then Ross pulled up," he said.
Mr Neil sat Mr Rixon down and gave him a cup of coffee before calling an ambulance.
"The ambulance came and put him in the back and that's the last I saw of Ross," he said.
Mr Rixon was flown to Concord hospital where he was treated for serious facial burns.
On January 18 he died of a massive heart attack.
'Tough old bastard'
Mr Neil described his friend of more than 20 years as a "tough old bastard".
In a family statement, his daughter June Tarlinton said her father was a "true bushman".
"He still tipped his hat to all the ladies on the street," Ms Tarlington said.
A desperate call
Michael Clarke died on January 24, 2020 when the Badja Forest fire hit his South Coast property.
His neighbour Robert Eder told the inquest he could see flames on the hill where Mr Clarke's home was, but was busy trying to put out spot fires around his own home.
At about 4:00pm he took a phone call from Mr Clarke's brother, Shane Clarke.
Shane told Mr Eder that Michael had just told him the shed outside his home was on fire, but the line had cut out.
"I said, 'I'll see what I can do,'" Mr Eder told the inquest.
The inquest into Mr Clarke's death has been adjourned while more evidence is gathered.
