A father has died after a devastating apartment fire broke out while he was preparing food for his children.
Walter Fletcher Bowers III suffered critical injuries in the blaze at the Pine Ridge Apartments in Gulf County, Florida.
According to the Port St. Joe Police Department, officers were called to the property on the morning of 30 May and arrived to find the apartment filled with thick smoke.
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A young child was found outside the property in a critical condition and was given emergency medical assistance at the scene, as reported by Need To Know.
Rescue crews then entered the smoke-filled apartment and located a second child along with 34-year-old Bowers before all three were taken to hospital.
The children, who are understood to be aged around five and 10, survived the incident and were later reported to be recovering well.
Bowers remained in hospital for several days before his family received the news they had been dreading.
In a statement shared online by relative Kimberly Bowers, the family said he was declared medically dead on 1 June.
She wrote: “On June 1, our family received the heartbreaking news from the doctors that Walter Fletcher Bowers, affectionately known as ‘Boug’, had been declared medically gone.”
The family described him as a devoted father and a much-loved member of the community.
“Boug was a beloved son, father, brother, grandson, nephew, brother-in-law and friend whose love, strength, and presence touched countless lives,” the statement added.
Authorities later said the fire is believed to have started in the kitchen while Bowers was preparing to cook chicken wings for his children.
Port St. Joe Police chief Jake Richards told local media the blaze originated from a pot of oil left on the stove.
The tragedy has deeply affected the local community, including some of the first responders who attended the scene.
Local reports said two emergency responders knew Bowers from their school days.
His mother, Tammy Bowers, said she was grateful her grandchildren survived the fire despite the family’s devastating loss.
A fundraising campaign has since been launched to help support the family and Bowers’ children following the tragedy.
In her online tribute, Kimberly thanked supporters for the messages, prayers and kindness shown to the family.
She wrote: “On behalf of the Bowers family, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming love, prayers, and support our community has shown during this unimaginable tragedy.”
The family said details of a celebration of life service will be announced at a later date.
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