South Carolina man tried to save wife; both died in fire

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – Authorities say a South Carolina man ran back into his burning home to save his wife before both of them died from smoke inhalation.

Mount Pleasant police released new information Friday into the deaths of 80-year-old Donnie Caston and 75-year-old Linda Caston. Their son, Timothy, told The Post and Courier that Donnie Caston ran from the Sept. 5 fire and urged a neighbour to call 911 before he dashed back into the home.

He says firefighters arrived to find Donnie Caston collapsed at the bottom of the home’s stairs, and Linda Caston unconscious in an upstairs bedroom.

A split tree and scorched area in the small backyard suggest the fire might have been caused by a lightning strike as Hurricane Dorian swept past the area.