A man who was killed in a fire at a former RAF base was trying to help firefighters tackle the blaze, his family said.
David Chester, 57, who ran the business Chesters & Sons on the site for 12 years, died in the incident on Thursday, along with firefighters Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38.
In a statement released by Thames Valley Police, Mr Chester’s family called him a “hero” who assisted the fire crews in Oxfordshire “without hesitation”.
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They said that the business owner “was the most amazing man we will ever know” and that “we love and miss him so much”.
“Dave was always known as the man you went to when you needed any sort of help,” the family added.
“This is exactly what happened on Thursday evening, he saw firefighters needing assistance and helped without hesitation.
“He was not a victim but a hero, he died the way he lived – helping others and putting them ahead of himself.”
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Oxfordshire County Council previously said that two further firefighters suffered serious injuries and remain in hospital.
On Saturday, firefighters from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) formed a guard of honour in memory of their two colleagues.
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Residents have been leaving personal messages underneath the Bicester Motion sign at the entrance to the site.
A golden plaque has also been installed underneath with a tribute from the “Bicester community”, which reads: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by the sad loss of two firefighters and the member of the public.”
Rob MacDougall, chief fire officer from OFRS, said the firefighters’ families were being supported, adding: “Our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times and we ask for their privacy to be respected.”
