Home News North East News

Neighbour to the rescue as blaze hits house in Peterlee

Jun 26 2011 by Vicky Robson, Sunday Sun

John McKie

A HEROIC neighbour has told of the moment he bravely stormed into a burning house to save an elderly couple.

Have-a-go hero John McKie has been praised by firefighters after he risked his own life and ran into the blazing home to help two pensioners in Pentland Close, Peterlee, County Durham, yesterday.

The 34-year-old managed to fight his way through flames by covering his head in a dressing gown and stayed with the couple until firefighters arrived at 12.10am.

Firefighters used a ladder to reach the residents, a man aged 80, and a woman aged 75, and led them to safety, after John smashed their bedroom window with a television set.

Speaking to the Sunday Sun, John, a factory worker, said: “My friend’s wife looked out of the kitchen window and said “Oh my God, the house is on fire”, so we all just ran straight outside.

“The flames were reaching half way up the house at that point and close to the back door, so we couldn’t get near it.

“We went around the front and started banging on the windows and shouting to try and get their attention, as the upstairs light was on.

“Then I heard somebody say it was an old couple who lived there and I just suddenly felt that I had to go in,” he said.

Keep up to date with the news. Sign up for News Alerts

Have your say on the latest news and sport in our Forums

Share

Explore County Durham

Puff image for geo navigational menu
Explore other areas in your community.

Related Tags

(What's this)