A man has died after rushing into a burning house to save his teenage grandson - unaware the boy was already free and safe.
The man who died, identified only as 62-year-old Lothar B. due to privacy laws, died along with his dog Benno in the house fire in the picturesque coastal village of Glowe, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Both the grandfather and the boy had been sleeping inside the property before Lothar got up early and went out of one entrance to prepare his boat for the upcoming fishing expedition, according to local media.
The boy's mother, Lothar's daughter, identified only as Doreen T, told local media: "My father got up very early on Easter Sunday and went to the harbour to prepare his boat for departure.
"He wanted to go fishing with his grandson. My son was still asleep but was suddenly awakened by the smoke.
"The kitchen was on fire, so he was practically trapped in the bedroom. He saw that his grandfather was no longer in bed, so he had the presence of mind to take the hound Benno on his shoulder and ran with him through the fire to get outside."
She explained that tragedy struck because there were two entrances to the house and while the boy went out one entrance and tried to wave down cars for help, Lothar rushed into the building using the other entrance, thinking his grandson was still inside.
Doreen said: "While my son took the upper path to stop cars outside and get help, my father came back from the harbour almost at the same time and ran through the lower entrance - the blazing garden house already in front of his eyes.
"Thinking the boy was still in the burning garden house, he, without a second thought, rushed in to get him out."
The structure was apparently complicated to get in and out of because it included an arbour into which trees and bushes had grown to make the property more attractive.
After seeing the man run inside, Benno ran into the building after his master. Both the dog and Lothar perished in the flames.
Doreen said that her son and her father missed each other by seconds and practically "ran past each other".
She added: "Nevertheless, I would like to thank the volunteer fire brigades Glowe and Sagard, who tried so selflessly to save my father."
The 13-year-old boy reportedly suffered some burns and was in a state of shock. He was discharged from hospital Monday, according to local media.
He is to be given psychological support, with his mother saying: "He seems very strong but of course, no one knows what it looks like inside him. He loved his grandpa very much; Both have done a lot together."
Police spokesperson Jennifer Fischer said: "The place where the fire broke out was the kitchen. What exactly triggered it has yet to be determined. However, external influence is unlikely.”
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
