Tragic British wrestling champion Adrian ‘Lionheart’ McCallum – who died at the age of 36 this week – attempted to save his teenage neighbour from a fatal fire earlier this year.
Natalie Merry, 18, died at the scene after a blaze ripped through her home in Ayr in January. Her boyfriend Alistair Innes, 22, and her mum Jennifer Merry, 49, managed to escape.
And The Daily Record has reported how McCallum told the outlet at the time of the harrowing incident how he attempted to save the teenager from the blaze.
He said: “I became aware of a boy hanging from the top window so I yelled at him to jump. I caught him as he came down and then tried to break down the front door.
“The poor girl was still inside. I could hear her screaming.”
McCallum – known by his ring name Lionheart – was the reigning ICW (Insane Championship Wrestling) world heavyweight champion and also competed for WWE and TNA during his career.
The Scotland-based ICW announced his tragic death and said in a statement: “We are heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of ICW World Heavyweight Champion, Adrian ‘Lionheart’ McCallum.
“Adrian was a mainstay of ICW and British professional wrestling. Most importantly, he was our friend. His passing leaves a huge hole in the lives of those who knew him.”
No further details about McCallum’s death have been released.
High-profile figures in the wrestling community paid tribute to the Scot after the news was announced.
WWE wrestler Cedric Alexander said he was “crushed” to hear of McCallum’s death, while fellow WWE star Paige – real name Saraya-Jade Bevis – said she would be “forever grateful” to have known him.
Pete Dunne, the longest-reigning WWE UK champion, tweeted: “I always looked up to Lionheart’s professional approach to wrestling when it was far from that at the time. People like him were pivotal in the growth of a scene that has lead to so many people being able to do this for a living.”
