Person trapped after house fire in Cornish village rescued by hero neighbours
Two people have been taken to hospital after the blaze at Widegates near Looe
Last updated 12th Mar 2022
One person has been rescued by quick-thinking neighbours after a house fire at a village in south-east Cornwall.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at Widegates on Friday afternoon, following a 999 call from a person trapped inside the property.
Luckily, neighbours managed to put a ladder up to a window and the trapped casualty was able to escape.
Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service later confirmed the fire was out and everyone was accounted for.
Two people, the one trapped and a neighbour, were taken to hospital for breathing in smoke.
Statement from Cornwall Fire & Rescue
"At 14:13 Fire Control received a 999 from a person trapped in a house fire. Three appliances were mobilised from Liskeard and Saltash within 49 seconds of BT passing the call to Fire Control. Officers from Liskeard and Bodmin were also mobilised to the incident.
"As the person was trapped a firefighter (Control) remained on the line with the occupant to provide fire survival guidance until the arrival of crews.
"The occupant was rescued by neighbours through an exterior window by ladder approximately two minutes before the arrival of the first appliance from Liskeard.
"All three emergency services are in attendance".
Cornwall Fire & Rescue later said: "Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus conducted a thorough search of the property and confirmed all persons are now accounted for.
"The fire has now been extinguished and the cause will be subject to a fire investigation".
At 4.30pm they added: "Two casualties have been taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation: the occupant who was trapped and the member of the public who rescued them".