TWO men who died in the devastating fire that gutted Cameron House hotel on Monday morning have been named as Richard Dyson and Simon Midgley from London, according to social media tributes paid by family and friends.

The couple were killed in the blaze that saw 200 guests being evacuated from the five-star hotel on the west banks of Loch Lomond.

A widely shared image of the fire showed a toddler being carried down a ladder by a firefighter.

The child has been named as Jimmy, the son of honeymooning guests Andrew and Louise Logan from Worcestershire, who were taken to hospital but have since been discharged.

The sister of freelance journalist Midgley posted a picture of her brother and his partner on Facebook, while another relative wrote: “I’m beyond heartbroken.”

Kate Baxter, who knew Midgley, wrote on Twitter: “Such unbearably sad news ... RIP @SimonMidgleyPR, a shining star in our wonderfully close-knit industry.”

Andrew Roger, director of the resort, yesterday praised the firefighters, police officers and ambulance workers who responded.

He said: “The very swift actions of the emergency services yesterday undoubtedly prevented further tragedy and I cannot begin to thank them for their bravery, compassion and professionalism.

“Everyone associated with Cameron House Hotel is still coming to terms with the events of yesterday and we are all hugely conscious that two people tragically lost their lives in the fire.

“Their families and friends are foremost in our thoughts as we co-operate fully with the investigation teams to try to establish the circumstances surrounding this terrible incident.

“The emergency services were on the scene long into the night and I cannot praise their efforts highly enough. They are true heroes.

“The firemen bringing out a couple and their young child by ladder from a second-floor room was a heart-stopping moment for all those who witnessed it.”

He also thanked industry colleagues and the local community, saying: “We’re also enormously grateful for the many, many offers of practical support and good wishes from the UK hospitality industry and also from the local community, which has rallied around to help.

“It’s been a humbling experience, but we are a small, tight-knit community on Loch Lomond and a response like that is typical of our many friends and neighbours.

“We’ve made arrangements for the vast majority of our guests to travel home or to continue with their breaks and we also thank them for their enormous patience and enduring good spirits at what was a very upsetting time.

“Lastly, I’d like to pay special tribute to all the Cameron House staff, who have shown an enormous degree of care and teamwork throughout the last two days.

“Nothing has been too much trouble for them and, at all times, they have had the best interests of our guests and the many members of the emergency services at heart. I’m extremely proud of them.”

One member of staff told reporters: “We are all absolutely torn by this to be honest. It was hard to stand there and watch it all unfold.

“It’s your worst nightmare and it was horrific. But I can’t stop thinking about the guests we lost, I had only seen them the day before.

“I can’t stop thinking about what they must have went through.”

“It’s just hard to take in, everyone is a bit lost. And it’s really hard to think I’m not going to be just going back to work.

“There are folk in the building who have worked here from the day dot, they’ll be totally lost.

“I’m not sure when we’ll be given an update on our jobs or anything, the roof is extensively damaged and we don’t know the cause yet – at the moment it is a day-by-day plan.”

Fire investigators were combing carefully through the wrecked hotel and Police Scotland confirmed yesterday that a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.