Tributes have been paid to an Oban firefighter who has died aged 43.
Brian MacDonald died last Wednesday after losing his battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
Mr MacDonald was diagnosed with the degenerative disease two years ago, calling time on his 13-year career as a firefighter in Glasgow. He came home to Oban last year.
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Mr MacDonald was determined to battle the illness and vowed to return to his role once he beat MND as he sought a place on a clinical trial to combat the illness.
But sadly, the outbreak of covid-19 put a halt to clinical trials and his condition deteriorated rapidly in the past few weeks.
Brian’s sister Tia MacDonald said: “Brian was the type of guy who would go out of his way to do anything for anybody.
“He still had a smile on his face towards the end, cracking jokes with the doctors in the hospital.
“He was so loving.
“He was a great brother, a fantastic uncle to his nieces and nephew and for his son John. He would do anything for them.
“He got engaged in the last few months to Michelle and she was so good for him.
“The care delivered to Brian was brilliant. Jessie his carer really went that extra mile for him.
“He will be so missed.”
During his career in Glasgow, Mr MacDonald was part of the emergency response sent to the Clutha bar on November 29 2013, after a police helicopter plummeted through its roof, killing seven people and all three crew members.
He also responded to the George Square bin lorry crash in December 2014, which killed six and injured 15 others just days before Christmas.
Mr MacDonald said his role was “the best job in the world”.
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Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Martin Blunden said Mr MacDonald would be sorely missed, adding: “Brian was a unique individual – a real connector of people, truly passionate about being a firefighter and above all, a family man.”
