Neighbour praises fire crew for ‘saving unconscious man’s life’

A Bath resident says firefighters saved a neighbour’s life after dragging his “unconscious” body out of his burning flat to safety.

Fire crews were called to the kitchen fire at Phoenix House, Julian Road, and rescued a man from the property before handing him over to the ambulance staff.

Neighbour Debbie Martin praised the Bath Fire Station crew and said if they had not been so prompt in arriving at the scene, she believed her neighbour would have died.

She tweeted: “Amazing response time by @AFRSBATH who just saved a man’s life in a house fire.

“They were called because we heard an alarm going off and couldn’t figure out which house it was coming from.

“They located the house and got the man out just in time! A few mins later he’d be dead.”

Miss Martin, who saw the whole incident unfold on July 15, said the man later regained consciousness.

The police and ambulance service have been contacted for comment to check on the man’s condition.

“The firefighters gave him oxygen and got him breathing after he was dragged out unconscious,” she said.

“Had the firefighters been a couple of minutes later, he probably would be dead by now. The firefighters deserve some praise.

“A fire alarm had been going off for 20 minutes. A neighbour called the fire brigade, they found the flat, got him out and they came out with a saucepan on fire.

“The man regained consciousness but I am not sure how he is now.”

The incident took place at around 12.30pm on Wednesday, July 15.

An Avon Fire spokeswoman said: “Crews from Bath Fire Station were mobilised to reports of a residential fire at 12:29 on Julian Road, Bath.

“On arrival, firefighters found a small fire in the kitchen of the ground floor flat had already been put out.

“Crews rescued one male casualty from the property before handing him over to the ambulance crews.

“Crews used one positive pressure ventilation fan to clear the smoke.

“The cause is thought to have been accidental.”