Ecuador earthquake: Dog dies from exhaustion after rescuing seven people from rubble

Dayko the labrador is believed to have suffered a heart attack

Dayko the Labrador retriever receiving emergency first aid after collapsing amid the rubble (Cuerpo De Bomberos Ibarra Ibarra/Facebook)

A rescue dog has died from exhaustion after reportedly saving seven people from rubble caused after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador.

Dayko, a four-year-old Labrador Retriever, suffered heat stroke while hunting for people among destroyed buildings.

He subsequently suffered a heart attack and died despite efforts by veterinarians and firefighters to resuscitate him.

The rescue dog had been working with the fire service for three and a half hours when he died in one of the worst-affected areas, the coastal town of Pedernales.

Ibarra Fire Department said on its Facebook page: "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.

"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."

Dayko helping firefighters search for survivors among the rubble (Cuerpo De Bomberos Ibarra Ibarra/Facebook)

Responding to criticism that they were working Dayko too hard, the fire department insisted the animal died from heat stroke due to dogs being inefficient controllers of body temperature.

Dayko the Labrador retriever, was four-years-old (Cuerpo De Bomberos Ibarra Ibarra/Facebook)

Described as the worst in Ecuador's history, the earthquake on April 16 has left more than 600 people dead and a further 12,000 injured.