Gardaí in Cork city are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire which claimed the life of an 18 year-old man yesterday morning.
Three units of Cork City Fire Brigade attended the scene of the blaze, at a two-storey house on the city's southside, after the alarm was raised by one of the youths living in the house at around 4 a.m.
The fire, which is believed to have started in an upstairs bedroom, swept through the top storey, trapping one of its occupants, an 18 year-old man.
His housemate, who was sleeping on the bottom floor, tried to get upstairs to help his friend, but was driven back by the smoke.
A third tenant was not in the house at the time of the fire.
Within 20 minutes of receiving the call, Cork fire-fighters brought the blaze under control, but despite their efforts the occupant of the upstairs bedroom could not be saved.
The dead man's body was removed to the South Infirmary Hospital and later transferred to Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
His 19-year-old friend was also taken to hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation, and was released yesterday afternoon.
The house was sealed off for forensic examination last night as the investigation into the cause of the tragedy continues.