4 days Ago
Two bystanders saved a man from a house fire by knocking down the front door in an act of heroism which has been praised by the fire service. Firefighters flocked to Castle Road in Worthing at 9.04am this morning after a blaze started at a property.
Graham Head, 41, was working in the street as a gas engineer at the time of the fire when he heard a man banging on the door from the inside. He sprang into action and kicked down the door. Graham, from Shoreham, said: “I saw the smoke and ran up there.
Firefighters at the property (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) “Two people were trying to get the guy out, they were throwing things at the door. “A man was banging on the door. “The fire was blazing, there were no windows left in the top of the property.
” Tom Jimpson, 37, also helped get the man out the property, battering the door with a road sign. READ MORE: Updates as woman dies following search and rescue near pier Tom, from Worthing, said: “I was just driving back home and there was thick smoke running across the road. “I pulled over and me and two other guys ran over to the house.
“The house was on fire, the gutter was on fire. The fire gutted the first floor of the property (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) “We could hear a guy banging on the front door to get out. “I got a metal road sign and tried to break the door down.
“The smoke was so thick you couldn’t get to the front of the house for more than 30 seconds at a time. “Graham battered the door down and ran in. “The guy disappeared, we were shouting for him.
Then he came out. “He was burnt. Fire engines at the scene (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) “It was quite scary.
You don’t think, you just do. “The guy must have only had a couple more minutes. “It was touch and go.
” A spokeswoman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service praised Tom and Graham's actions. They said: "The actions of the local workers are highly commendable. "Incidents such as the one we’ve seen today in Castle Road highlight the importance of having working smoke alarms on every level of your home as they will alert you to a fire at the earliest opportunity, giving you time to safely escape and call 999.
" They said that at the height of the fire, five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform were at the scene - but as of 12.30pm, resources had been scaled back. They added: "Firefighters are working hard to extinguish the fire which involves the first floor and roof space, and residents in the area are being urged to keep their doors and windows closed at this time.
"There is also a road closure in place at Castle Road. "All people are accounted for and one casualty is in the care of crews from South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb)." Secamb has been approached for comment.
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