Blaze hero feared death

A man who rescued a woman from a Shropshire home surrounded by fire today said he feared he would die. Tony Kirchin, 43, broke down the door of the house in Gobowen.

He led the woman from the smoke-filled property to safety in her garden.

But after passing her to neighbours over the fence, he became overcome by the smoke and had to use his mobile phone to get help.

Firefighters went to his aid and, after receiving oxygen, Mr Kirchin was taken to hospital.

Fire pictures - click here

The blaze, thought to have started in caravans parked outside a neighbouring house, threatened to engulf the house in St Martins Road on Sunday evening.

Mr Kirchin, who is from London, was visiting his girl- friend in the village. He said they were in a nearby pub when they heard a bang.

"We rushed outside to see the flames. Someone was saying there was a woman trapped inside," he said.

"Instinct took over and I got through the flames and bashed on the door, I eventually broke it down and I saw the lady standing in shock in the living room. Just as I got in, the car in the drive exploded and there was no way we could get out through the front."

He added: "Another man came in to help and we led her out in the back garden and helped her over a fence to neighbours."

Mr Kirchin said by then the smoke was making him feel disorientated.

"I couldn't work out how to get out of the garden myself and I knew I was in trouble. I lay down out of the smoke, rang my girlfriend on the mobile and asked her to get help. I did think is this how I am going to die - in a back garden," he said.

Police today said the blaze could be linked to an attem-pted arson attack in the road less than 48 hours earlier.