Lucky escape for fire victim (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Lucky escape for fire victim

10:53am Saturday 25th April 2009 in News By Kathie Griffiths, T&A Reporter

A man saved from his smoke-filled flat could have had just minutes left to live, one of his rescuers has said.

The 30-year-old man was found asleep on a sofa by firefighters who had to break down the door to get in.

He was helped outside and given oxygen by paramedics before being taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary with smoke inhalation.

It happened at a ground-floor flat in Denbury Mount, Holme Wood, just before 4am.

Choking smoke had come from an electric cooker ring which had been left on.

A smoke alarm had been triggered but it was a passer-by who alerted the emergency services.

Crew manager Andy Bellerby, from Odsal, said: “If it hadn’t have been for the passer-by this man might not have been so lucky. He could have had just minutes left by the time we got to him. The flat was full of smoke, we could smell it from outside.

“By the time he’d got to the hospital, he’d come round and was asking for his trainers. He’s a very lucky man.”