A passer-by has rescued a pensioner after smoke was spotted billowing from her Ramsgate home.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) was called to a bin fire in the kitchen of a bungalow in Derwent Avenue, on the Nethercourt estate, at 10.41am.
But before crews arrived a man had already gone into the smoke-filled home and escorted the woman out of the premises.
His wife, who says her husband is very private and so did not want to be named, said: “We were driving past and I saw the smoke and wondered who was stupid enough to be having a bonfire at that time.
“But then I realised the smoke was too thick and too black and it was coming out of the windows. I reversed and stopped and my husband got out of the car and went straight into the house.
“I was shouting at him because he is ill himself, he has a brain tumour, but he did not even think. He just went up the garden and in and then he was helping this lady in her 70s with a Zimmer frame out of the house.
“I was thinking of the dangers but he didn’t think about the risks, he just said his priority was making sure she was ok.
“I’m very proud of him.”
Two fire engines attended the scene and extinguished the fire. The woman was cared for by South East Coast Ambulance paramedics for smoke inhalation.
A KFRS spokesperson said: “Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a kitchen bin alight in Derwent Avenue, Ramsgate.
“Two fire engines attended, and crews wearing breathing apparatus, used a hose-reel jet to extinguish the fire.
“The cause of the fire is not yet known, and one person was passed into the care of SECAmb for smoke inhalation.”
Crews finished at the scene at 11.35am.
Very well done that man.