A four-year-old white Labrador called Dayko has been hailed as a hero after rescuing seven people from the aftermath of the Ecuador earthquake - before dying from exhaustion.

Dayko, a rescue dog for the Ibara fire service, died last Friday, having spent the previous days searching for survivors in the rubble left by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake which hit Ecuador last week.

Expand Close Dayko, the Ecuadorian rescue dog Credit: Cuerpo De Bomberos Ibarra / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dayko, the Ecuadorian rescue dog Credit: Cuerpo De Bomberos Ibarra

According to a post on Ibara fire service's Facebook page the cause of death was "massive coronary myocardial infarction and acute respiratory failure." He had been working as a rescue dog for three and a half years.

"We regret to inform you that today the [fire service] is in mourning because [we] just lost Dayko who participated in the work of searching in Pedernales," said the fire service.

"This four legged friend gave his life in the line of duty. Thank you Dayko for your heroic efforts in Pedernales and in various emergencies where you were present.

"You held high the name of the K9 unit."

More than 2,000 people were injured in the quake on April 16, which ripped apart buildings and roads and knocked out power along the Pacific coastline. At least 654 people have been killed.

President Rafael Correa, said last week: "Reconstruction will cost billions of dollars," and the impact on economic growth "could be huge."

Around 500 specialists from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, the US, and Venezuela have been assisting local fire brigades and special forces.

Supplies have been arriving by air from less-affected parts of Ecuador and survivors flown for treatment to Quito, the capital, and Guayaquil, the biggest city.

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