A MAN trapped by a blaze in his home in London’s East End was rescued by a fire brigade snatch squad’ risking their own safety. The two rescuers heard the middle-aged man calling for help when they arrived outside his first floor flat at Poplar’s Carmichael House in Bazeley Street, near the Blackwall Tunnel approach, and din't have time to put on their breathning apparatus

By Mike Brooke

A MAN trapped by a blaze in his home in London’s East End was rescued by a fire brigade snatch squad’ risking their own safety.

The two rescuers heard the middle-aged man calling for help when they arrived outside his first floor flat at Poplar’s Carmichael House in Bazeley Street, near the Blackwall Tunnel approach, yesterday afternoon (Thursday).

Fire crew manager Darren Woodcock and firefighter Mark Fry made their way through the toxic smoke and found the man collapsed.

NO TIME

“They didn’t have time to put on breathing apparatus,” said senior fire officer Steve White.

“The man couldn’t get past the kitchen where the fire was to reach the front door.

“But my officers got through and snatched him to safety. It just took a few seconds.

“They heard him call for help and didn’t hesitate to reach him—he was dazed and unable to get out himself.”

OXYGEN

The man was given oxygen by the fire crew, then treated by ambulance paramedics when they arrived, before being taken to hospital for the effects of inhaling smoke.

Cause of the blaze was still being investigated last night.

The crew from Poplar fire-station returned to Carmichael House later yesterday and fitted smoke detectors in the flat and neighbouring properties as part of the London Fire Brigade’s ongoing safety campaign.