CANADA: Captain Killed Trying To Save His Dog

A post-mortem is expected Thursday on the body of a Niagara Falls fire official who reportedly died while trying to save his dog.

Capt. Tim Vail, 48, was found dead earlier this week in Vineland following a report of a missing person.

Police investigators say that Vail, who lived in Lincoln, Ont., had been walking his dogs in the area earlier in the day but that the exact circumstances of his death remain under investigation.

Todd Brunning, president of the firefighters union, said that the investigation is ongoing but that "indications are that it appears Tim died trying to rescue the family dog."

Brunning said Vail was walking the dogs in an area of Vineland called Prudhomme's Landing, an abandoned water park and hotel formerly known as Wet 'n' Wild where he had often walked his dogs.

Niagara Regional Police Const. Phillip Gavin said that the investigation into what happened is still ongoing, but they hope to issue more information Thursday afternoon.

Regional Coroner Dr. Jack Stanborough said the post-mortem examination should be finished by then, but no cause of death has been determined just yet.

"It looks like it's going to be a tragic circumstance death," Stanborough said. "It's incredibly unfortunate and just terribly unlucky."

Stanborough said there doesn't appear to be any suspicious or criminal element linked to the incident. The coroner may order a toxicity screen "just to be sure," he said.

The Niagara Falls Fire Department says the captain was a 20-year veteran of the service who is survived by his wife and two children. He started his career in 1995 and was became a captain in 2013.

Fire Chief Lee Smith said that funeral arrangements are still being made. Every firefighter in the organization wants to be there, he said, but some still have to stand by in case of an emergency or a fire.

Vail's wife Samantha and his two children Tanner and Abby are still shocked and stunned, he said. "They're taking it really hard. This is the initial grieving period," Smith said.

Vail was a man who was unyieldingly committed, Smith said. "He was a confident, go-o guy."

"He was just so personable and fun to be around."