Man lucky to survive Telford house fire
Monday 20th June 2011, 2:38PM BST.
A man was lucky to be alive today after a blaze engulfed his Telford home and choked the building with thick smoke. Firefighters believe he was only saved because he was awoken by flames scorching him.
The drama happened in the early hours of this morning.
The man was found outside his mid-terrace in Stonebridge Close, Aqueduct, blackened from head to foot with soot.
The man, who was in his 30s but has not been named, was suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation and was given emergency first aid at the scene before being taken to the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford.
Fire crews called to the blaze at 1am found neighbours outside the property, the lounge engulfed in flames and black smoke billowing from the windows.
Craig Jackson, acting watch manager at Tweedale fire station, said neighbours told them they thought there was a man in there.
He said: “At that point a man made himself known to us and said he had been in the house. He was covered from head to foot in soot and was struggling with his breathing.”
Firefighters gave the man oxygen treatment, searched the house and managed to extinguish the fire. Mr Jackson said it was believed a discarded cigarette had sparked the blaze.
He said: “The man inside was very lucky to get out alive. We believe the fire started to burn him and woke him up before the smoke took full effect.”
Mr Jackson said there was no smoke alarm in the house.
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