A grieving spouse honors the firefighter who tragically lost their life in a car accident.
A grieving wife honors her firefighter spouse who tragically passed away in a car accident along with their three beloved spaniels while rushing to an emergency.
- On October 12, a collision in Wiltshire resulted in the unfortunate death of 47-year-old firefighter Mark Hiller.
The wife of a firefighter who tragically passed away in a devastating car accident, along with his three dogs, has expressed her admiration for him.
Mark Hillier, 47, was killed in the crash on the A345 in Pewsey, Wiltshire, last Thursday as he responded to an emergency call.
The man who is a father to three children was accompanied by his three spaniel pets when his Suzuki Grand Vitara was in a car accident with a BMW.
The death of their colleague was later confirmed by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue. Crew members who were present at the scene were deeply saddened.
Mr Hillier’s wife Holly said: ‘Mark lived and breathed for the fire service, it was a calling he embraced with his whole heart.
Mark Hillier, 47, was killed in the crash on the A345 in Pewsey, Wiltshire, on October 12.
Mr Hillier pictured with his wife Holly and their three children Jaimee, Hayden and Isla
‘Mark died responding to a fire call, one of probably only a handful he didn’t turn out for. His bravery, sense of duty and unwavering dedication to serve his community in Pewsey and the communities in Salisbury and Surrey, alongside his brothers and sisters, he held so dear.
We had no doubt about the love he felt for his fire service family. We were extremely proud of him.
Mark has dedicated the past six years to constructing our permanent residence whenever he is not working. We deeply appreciate his efforts in doing so. In addition to being an excellent firefighter, he possesses carpentry and craftsmanship skills, making him versatile in various trades.
Mr Hillier started working for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in October 1995. He was initially an on-call firefighter at Pewsey fire station but later became a watch manager, according to Wiltshire Live. Alongside his on-call duties, he also had other responsibilities.
Mr Hillier worked as a wholetime firefighter with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service for nine years, before transferring back to Dorset and Wiltshire, where he worked as a watch manager at Salisbury fire station.
He received a Making a Difference award in 2021 for his exceptional efforts and dedication in coordinating the ‘laptops for kids’ campaign.
Mark’s wife mentioned that he also prioritized spending time with their four lovely spaniels.
Mark was attending to the call while he was accompanied by three of our spaniels. On that evening, both Teddy and Coco, two of our dogs, also passed away alongside Mark, and Joey passed away a few hours later at the veterinarian’s office.
‘The intense pain and devastation of losing Mark and our dogs is unimaginable and indescribable, we are broken and will never be whole again. The house is quiet. A huge part of our family has been ripped from us.
We will always hold immense pride in you, just as you held in us. Your courage, altruism, and the countless lives you saved will never be forgotten. You will always be honored and treasured.
“I cannot reword.”
Please send your photos and memories of Mr Hillier to an email address created by his family, [email protected]. Friends and acquaintances are encouraged to contribute.
Until 8am tomorrow, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is displaying its Union flags at half-mast as a sign of respect.
