His dog's well‑timed walk pulled an elderly man outside his house — returned to find the pet saved him from 'deadliest' tragedy that claimed 128 lives
A simple routine, like taking a walk, turned into something much more significant when least expected for one elderly man. The Hong Kong resident lived in a high-rise with his wife and daughter. His dog’s well-timed urge to go outside the house ultimately saved him from a tragedy that claimed 128 lives. The unfortunate incident happened on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, when Tsang, a retiree in his 70s, returned from the walk with his dog.
As reported by the New York Post on Friday, November 28, 2025, Tsang had been out for a walk with his dog. When he returned around 3 p.m., he saw smoke and flames rising from his apartment building, the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong. When Tsang tried to go back upstairs, firefighters had already blocked the way, telling him and others to leave. “I saw a lot of smoke and flames,” Tsang recalled in conversation with the South China Morning Post. He was unable to return to his apartment, and the fire soon engulfed the building. Tsang felt “lucky enough” that his family wasn’t at home during the fire. The tragic fire destroyed much of the 32-story building, taking the lives of at least 128 people, with many more injured or unaccounted for.
Authorities described the fire as the “deadliest” in the region in decades, which has left the elderly temporarily homeless. Though displaced, Tsang expressed his deep gratitude for his dog’s insistence on going for that walk. He felt incredibly fortunate that his pet had needed to step outside at that critical moment. He currently plans to stay with a friend while searching for long-term accommodation for himself and his family. “At least our whole family is safe.” The cause of the fire seemed to be the foam panels and bamboo scaffolding, covered in netting, which were possibly installed by the construction company. These materials quickly caught fire, causing the blaze to spread rapidly from one building to another.
Whether driven by animal instincts or a protective bond with their owners, pet dogs have always stepped up in times of need. Another recent incident proved just that. One quiet evening in the village of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, pet owner Katrina Archer, 44, was peacefully sleeping when her six-year-old Border Collie, Freckles, began barking uncontrollably. Startled, Katrina woke up to see smoke filling the room. "She was trying to get my attention to tell me that something was wrong," Katrina recalled. At first, she thought it was a small issue and grabbed a bowl of water, unaware of the danger. The fire, believed to have started from nearby wildfires, quickly spread. Neighbors came to help her with a hose until firefighters arrived. Katrina, shaken by the event, believes her life was saved by Freckles' actions. “If she hadn’t have come in and been barking at me, I wouldn’t even have known about the fire,” she said, expressing her gratitude.