Hero saves family as fire wrecks flat (From Times Series)

Hero saves family as fire wrecks flat

1:47am Wednesday 25th July 2007 in

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A mother-of-three has hailed her neighbour as a "hero" for saving her family's lives.

Paul Wood had just been dropped off at his flat in Reston's Crescent, Eltham, on Saturday morning after a night out with friends.

He was walking up the stairwell of his block of flats in Thanington Court, when he smelt smoke coming from a ground floor flat.

Mr Wood realised the occupants could still be sleeping so he started banging on the door in an attempt to wake them.

As soon as the door opened and he knew the family was awake, the 45-year-old ran up two flights of stairs to his flat and called the fire brigade.

Vikki White, whose flat was gutted in the fire, says the heroic actions of Mr Wood saved her family's life.

The 26-year-old single mum, who is mother to Amelia, four, Ben, two, and 17-week-old George, said: "My daughter came into my bedroom to get me after being woken up by someone banging on the front door.

"I woke to find the bedroom full of smoke so I grabbed the kids and ran outside.

"It was really scary, even more so for my daughter.

"If it wasn't for Amelia, we would all be dead."

Miss White and her young family are staying with relatives as the damage to her flat is too severe to return to at present.

She says the fire started in the kitchen but there is too much damage to say what caused it.

The family suffered minor smoke inhalation and were treated at the scene by the London Ambulance Service.

Miss White added: "I've thanked Mr Wood loads. He is such a hero.

"He was constantly banging on my door. If it wasn't for him, Amelia wouldn't have woken up.

"He saved my daughter's life and she saved ours."

Amelia, who starts primary school in September, said: "I just got out of bed and woke mummy up."

Unemployed Mr Wood says anyone would have done what he did.

He said: "I'm glad the kids are okay. Everything else they have lost is replaceable, they are not.

"I don't feel I've done anything special. For those who want to call me a hero, thanks."

A crew from Eltham fire station dealt with the blaze, which happened at 7.40am.

Firefighters also praised Mr Wood's actions.

A crew member who attended the fire said: "After he managed to wake them up, he rushed up two flights of stairs and called us to the address.

"He was a bit of a hero, actually. Had he not done what he did, it might have been a different story altogether."

London Fire Brigade says it is still investigating the cause of the blaze.