A man who lost his life in a fire in his Msida apartment died trying to escape, investigators suspect.

The fierce fire, believed to have been caused by a gas heater, broke out just after 7.30am in the apartment in Triq Oscar Zammit.

While the mother and son managed to get out of the apartment, 70-year-old Joseph Dimech was trapped inside. Panic-stricken, he probably attempted to flee from the shaft and fell, police sources said.

The sources added Mr Dimech was found in the shaft of his apartment by firefighters who rushed to the scene. 

Mr Dimech’s wife, Phyllis, 66, and their 25-year-old son, Carlos, were rushed to hospital to be treated for their injuries. The latter suffered burns while the woman was treated for smoke inhalation.

Believed to have been caused by a gas heater

An eyewitness told Times of Malta they heard a very loud explosion, with black smoke subsequently bellowing out of the apartment. The eyewitness woke up to hear loud screaming coming from the apartments, he said.

Another eyewitness said she arrived on the scene to find two people on the roof of the Msida apartment trying to communicate with firefighters below.

“The firefighters were struggling to reach the two people on the roof, until another fire truck came and they could continue their rescue mission,” she said.

They seemed to be trapped by the fire, the person on the scene said.

Magistrate Simone Grech is leading an inquiry with the help of a number of court experts she appointed to assist her.

MEP Francis Zammit Dimech described Mr Dimech as a "jovial" person "who never failed to lend a helping hand". Mr Dimech had served as a driver for Dr Zammit Dimech when the latter was a Cabinet minister.  Dr Zammit Dimech told Times of Malta that he was shocked by the news. 

"I remember Joe as a very hard-working and ever so jovial a person, never failing to lend a helping hand to all who needed it, to be do caring towards his family whom I know well and to others in general," the MEP said.

"He was the kind of person to leave a positive impact on you. My deepest condolences and utmost solidarity to his family."

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