A Batlow region landowner has told the NSW Coroner that he considers David Harrison a "hero" for helping to save part of his farm from the Dunns Road bushfire.
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Geoff Purcell on Tuesday told an inquest into Mr Harrison's death on January 4 last year that he did everything he could after the fire jumped Batlow Road and started burning on the farm.
"He's my hero. I'm just so proud of him for what he done to help us save what we did," Mr Purcell told the court.
Mr Harrison was pronounced dead at Tumut after collapsing on Mr Purcell's property in the hours after the fire crossed the fence line.
Attempts by police and ambulance crews to revive him beside Batlow Road were unsuccessful.
Counsel assisting the Coroner, Tracey Stevens, told the inquest that Mr Harrison, aged 47 from Goulburn, was a regular visitor to Mr Purcell's property south of Wondalga, known as 'Strathvale'.
Under questioning from Ms Stevens, Mr Purcell said Mr Harrison used the farm as a "getaway from the city".
"He loved hanging around at the farm and enjoying life on the farm ... at the time, we were catching up at least every month if not every fortnight," Mr Purcell said.
The inquest into Mr Harrison's death was part of a wider inquiry before the State Coroner, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan, into the bushfires across NSW during the 2019-20 summer.
Mr Purcell, a NSW Rural Fire Service member, said he had fought bushfires in the region and grassfires on his property in previous years, but the Dunns Road fire was fiercer than any he had seen.
"The fire was way more fiercer and out of control ... this fire was bloody bigger than anybody would have thought," he said.
Mr Purcell agreed with Ms Stevens that he was monitoring media reports and the Fires Near Me smartphone app on the progress of the bushfire and had received warning messages.
"We were never going to be any danger. We were out in open country ... we were reasonably OK with how it was at the time," Mr Purcell said.
After seeing the flames approach from the other side of Batlow Road and reach the property line, Mr Purcell and Mr Harrison decided to evacuate about 4.15pm.
Mr Purcell said he had second thoughts while departing due to the 350 cattle left on the property.
"I can't leave my stock to burn. I have to go back up there and save my cattle," Mr Purcell said he told Mr Harrison.
The two men did save most of the cattle but Mr Harrison later collapsed while the pair were split up, with Mr Purcell finding him slumped over in a ute.
"There was some blood coming from his mouth. I told him 'hang on, we're going to town'," Mr Purcell told the court.
Unable to call for help do to a lack of mobile phone service, Mr Purcell said he attempted to drive Mr Harrison to Tumut Hospital and was able to wave down police on Batlow Road but "there was nothing they could do".
Mr Harrison's brother, Peter, also appeared at the inquest on Tuesday to provide a statement on behalf of the family.
Peter told the inquest that David had declined to leave his school friend's property despite family members urging him to do so as the bushfire spread.
"Dave tragically lost his life trying to protect the farm that was such a big part of his life," Peter told the court.
"Together, Dave and his great mate Geoff managed to save the houses and most of the cattle."
Peter thanked emergency service members who "tried desperately and tirelessly to save our little brother's life in such difficult circumstances".
Ms Stevens was granted a request to hold over her determination on Mr Harrison's death until the bushfires inquiry was complete in September next year..
Ms Stevens said she would submit that Mr Harrison died from a combination of methamphetamine use and heatstroke, which was supported by an autopsy and toxicology report.
Mr Purcell said he was not aware of Mr Harrison taking drugs while on his property and he did not appear to be intoxicated before collapsing during the fire.
"The temperature was the hottest I have felt in my life, I suppose ... the oxygen was taken out of the air so we really couldn't breathe," Mr Purcell said.
Magistrate O'Sullivan said it was clear from the evidence that Mr Harrison "died a hero".
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