Bo'ness, UK - The ultimate sacrifice: a 66-year-old Scottish father saved his four-legged friend from drowning after falling through a frozen pond – but later died in at a nearby hospital.

According to a report on the British website The Daily Record, police were alerted at around 12:30 PM and rushed to the scene where a man had fallen through an icy pond with his dog.

After rescue workers arrived in the Scottish village of Bo'ness (about 18 miles west of Edinburgh),
they freed 66-year-old Iain Morrell and the dog named Simba from the freezing water.

The man was flown to the hospital by helicopter – but died a few hours later.

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The dog is believed to have been in distress in the pond when his owner rushed to his aid, and then also collapsed through the water.

Simba survived the accident safely. For now, "man's best friend" remains in the care of animal experts.

There has been an immense outpouring of love in memorializing Iain Morrell. His 20-year-old daughter Alana posted a moving farewell message on her Facebook account, remembering her father and calling him her "best friend" and "completely irreplaceable."

"You were the strongest person I have ever known," Alana wrote of her late dad. "I will forever be your little girl and my life will never be the same without you."

She thanked him for giving her 20 years of memories as a "great role model" and said she was devastated because she will never be able to hear his voice again.

In addition, Alana also expressed her gratitude to the emergency services and hospital staff who did their best to help both her dog Simba and her father - "an inspiration".