RFS volunteer dies in northern NSW

A dedicated Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer has died from a heart attack despite his brigade's desperate attempts to keep him alive on the roadside.

The man, believed to be 76, was on his way to a house fire at Loadstone, in northern NSW, with the Kyogle RFS team on Thursday when he appeared to go into shock.

RFS Northern Rivers Superintendent Michael Brett said the volunteers pulled the truck over and hauled the man onto the roadside to help him.

"He was still breathing but was very pale," he told AAP.

"An ambulance came and he went into cardiac arrest."

The man, who has volunteered with the RFS in 1978, died a short time later in hospital.

"But unfortunately time was against them," Mr Brett said.

He leaves behind family in Kyogle.

"The volunteer had been attached to the Kyogle Rural Fire Service since 1978, selflessly dedicating his life to make sure the community was safe," NSW Emergency Services Minister Stuart Ayres said.

"On behalf of the people of NSW our thoughts and condolences are tonight with the volunteer firefighter's family and friends."