Man feared for his neighbour's life as smoke engulfed flat

The woman was rescued by the fire service who turned up within minutes of being called on Saturday morning.

She was found lying in her home which had become filled with smoke after a mattress had caught fire in her bedroom.

Paul Martin, who lives in one of the flats in the house in Albert Road, said he thought she might be trapped.

"I had just been up to the post office. I opened up the front door and saw smoke coming from under her door," he said.

"I was thinking I knew she was in there. I was concerned she was going to be trapped.

"We attempted to get in for a minute, but we couldn't get through the door. There was a bit of smoke damage in the hallway.

"The fire service did a good job. They were here within four or five minutes."

The woman, who is believed to be in her 50s, was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester suffering from smoke inhalation.

The main fire damage was restricted to the front bedroom, but there was smoke damage throughout the flat.

Fire investigation officers are still investigating the cause of the fire, and have examined the scene with the help of Hattie the fire investigation dog.

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