The 88-year-old was travelling with his dog when the tragedy unfolded.

By Berk Uyal, Live News Content Editor/Reporter

14:20, Tue, Aug 4, 2026 Updated: 14:24, Tue, Aug 4, 2026

Fields,With,Red,Soil,And,Avgorou,Village,In,Famagusta,District

The incident took place in Avgorou, in the south-west of Cyprus (Image: Shutterstock / Fotokon)

An 88-year-old British pensioner has died alongside his dog after his car burst into flames in Cyprus. The pair were travelling to an animal shelter when the vehicle became stranded on a dirt road, according to local reports. The incident happened near Avgorou in the island's Famagusta district on Saturday.

The pensioner had travelled around 138km (86 miles) from his home in Pachna with his care worker before the car became stuck after they reportedly lost their way. The man is understood to have made repeated attempts to get out of the vehicle after it became stranded. The fire is believed to have started after nearby dry reeds caught alight, quickly engulfing the vehicle, Cyprus Mail reported.

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The man's care worker managed to escape and later told police she had urged him to leave the vehicle, but he instead told her to go and get help while he remained behind.

Emergency services found the man’s body beside the passenger door after the blaze had been brought under control. His dog also died in the fire.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.