A father has been praised as a hero after saving 10 of his family members in a house fire north of Melbourne.
Michael Lolicato, 34 and his son Louis, 6 were killed after a blaze engulfed a holiday house in Tyaak.
The father and son were staying at the four-bedroom property with their extended family for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend when the house went up in flames on Saturday night.
Louis and a 33-year-old man died at the scene, while 11 people were rushed to the hospital. Lolicato, who had been in a critical condition, later died on Sunday evening.
Lolicato’s wife Nicci and their two other children Harvey and Rafael are still being treated at hospital.
Police are not treating the fire at the weatherboard house as suspicious.
Victoria Police said Arson and Explosives Squad detectives would prepare a report for the Coroner.
In a fundraiser page, Lolicato’s families said he would be remembered as a hero.
“He was devoted to his family and worshipped the ground they walked on,” the page read.
“He showed this in his actions during the devastating fire – giving up his own life in order to do all he could to save each and every person that night.”
The families released a statement on Monday afternoon saying they were heartbroken.
“We are still dealing with the devastation in our own time and making sure that those affected have the support and love that is so much needed during this time,” the statement said.
“We have lost three members of our families to this tragedy, one being a child. Our families need the time to grieve and support those who are affected.
“The people we lost were loving, beautiful members of our families. They were extremely loved and always there for anybody who needed them. We will remember them this way.”
