Football fan rescued from burning flat

9:40am Thursday 22nd May 2008

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A MAN in his 20s was rescued from a burning flat by firefighters hours after watching last night's dramatic European Champions League football final on television.

The man had fallen asleep on a sofa while a pan of food was cooking in the kitchen of his first floor flat on Brunswick Road, Newton-le-Willows.

Frantic neighbours called emergency services after smelling smoke about about 1.40am and fearing that the man was trapped inside. A police officer who was first to the scene kicked the door in but the smoke was too thick for him to get inside.

Moments later fire crews in breathing apparatus went into the smoke-filled room and carried the victim to safety, before he was taken to Whiston Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Neil Graham, watch manger at Newton fire station, said: "It seems he had been watching last night's football (Manchester United beat Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out), had a few to drink and then fallen asleep after putting some food on the stove.

"He had passed out and even the smoke alarm that was going off inside and the police officer kicking the door in could not bring him round.

"When we got him outside he was treated by paramedics and he told us two of his friends were inside so we ended up with six firefighters in there with breathing apparatus on. But there was only the one man in there.

"The message really is don't drink and start cooking food because if you fall asleep it will kill you."