A community is in mourning after a ‘one of a kind’ dad of four died in a fire at his Sidmouth home on Father’s Day.
The man, named locally as Marcus Dack, will not be forgotten, say some of the friends and colleagues whose lives he touched.
Mr Dack died in the fire that engulfed his Howarth Close home on Sunday, June 15.
Dawn Pugsley met him nearly 20 years ago, and soon connected with him.
“He was so funny and such a lovely, intelligent bloke - someone you could trust,” she said.
“He would go the extra mile for anybody.”
She said he was from Seaton originally but settled down in Sidmouth and was helping to run Carinas when they met.
Soon after, he joined the coastguard, got a job in IT with the fire service and started a family.
“I was in disbelief when I heard what happened; I think everyone who knew him was,” added Dawn.
“It was just awful to hear. Marcus was one of a kind – he won’t be forgotten.”
Town councillor and local resident Dawn Manley said: “The whole community is in mourning. Everybody is absolutely devastated.”
Mr Dack was a member of Beer Coastguard for nearly two decades and was due to be recognised for his long service next year.
Station officer Terry Hoare said he was a ‘generous, reliable and respected’ member of the team, and a friend to them all.
“We’ve got happy memories of him. You spend that long with someone, especially as a volunteer, and you build a bond with them,” he said. “He was the team leader in Sidmouth and normally the first on the scene.
“He was so young, it’s tragic. Our thoughts are with his family. You’ve got to feel for the fire service. You are trained to deal with things like this but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
Mike White, his former colleague in the fire service, said: “I knew Marcus when I worked around headquarters.
“During that period he was always very approachable and very helpful, happy and friendly.
“My thoughts are with his family.”
Jon Miller, also a group manager in the fire service, added: “Marcus’s death has filled us with great sadness and we are all thinking of his family and friends at this terrible time.
“Marcus was a popular member of our team and a friend to many of us.”
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