A Nambucca Valley man managed to save his house from one of Black Summer's early bushfires before he died while trying to drive to safety, a coronial inquiry has heard.
The Kian Road fire, on the New South Wales mid-north coast, was started by a lightning strike in October 2019 and burnt through more than 60 homes.
Today, the NSW Bushfire coronial inquiry heard how 63-year-old Chris Savva and a neighbour defended their properties when the fire roared through the township of South Arm.
His body was later found in a car that had rolled off the road after encountering thick smoke.
Mr Savva's neighbour, Anton Pfluger, was the last known person to see him alive. He told the court they shook hands as they realised their homes were the last ones standing.
Mr Pfluger also told the court he took a photo of Mr Savva in the aftermath of the fire to paint him.
The Counsel assisting the coroner said Mr Savva died while trying to leave the burnt town.
The court heard Mr Savva's partner tried to call him 22 times, but due to power outages, no messages reached his phone until two days after he died.
Family statements read to the court said Mr Savva was proud of his South Arm property, which he bought to make into a "family home".
The court heard he was "best friends" with his former wife, who he spoke with often.
"Sometimes he'd call her 20 times a day which drove her mad, but it's something she misses now," read the statement.
The court heard one of his granddaughters, Tamika, printed his nickname for her, 'Tula', on the back of her Year 12 jersey.
Mr Pfluger said his finished painting of Mr Savva now hangs in the Nambucca Shire Council chambers.
"It's there so everyone who knows him can come and have a look."
The inquiry will tomorrow turn its attention to the Mount Mackenzie fire near Tenterfield in the state's New England region.
