Alert neighbours tell of Rotherham fire rescue drama

A 29-year-old man who fell asleep as fire broke out in his kitchen had his life saved by firefighters after neighbours heard his fire alarm sounding and dialled 999.

Martin Clarkson, of Elizabeth Way, Masbrough, called in the emergency services at around 4.30am on Saturday (29) after he was awoken by the sound of the alarm in the flat below his own.

Two fire engines from Rotherham fire station rushed to the scene and crews broke into the smoke filled property.

Firefighters found a man asleep on the sofa with a pan of food on fire on a hob in the kitchen.

He was led to safety and given a precautionary check-up by paramedics at the scene but escaped uninjured.

The house was left heavily smoke damaged.

Mr Clarkson said: “The smoke alarms woke my partner and I.

“At first, we unsure whether to call the emergency services or not but I'm so glad we did as the firefighters on the scene told us just a few minutes could have made the difference in saving this man's life.”

Watch Manager Adam Longden, said: “Our message is clear — if in doubt, call us out.

“This is yet another example of where having working smoke alarms in your home have potentially made the difference between life and death.

“The neighbours did the right thing by calling us out and we hope this incident reminds residents to test their smoke alarms regularly.”