Mystery man pulls girl out of blaze

A MYSTERY passer-by has been hailed a hero after rescuing a girl from a burning building.

The 13-year-old victim was trapped in a bedroom after an electrical fault sparked a blaze at her house in Clarksfield Road, Greenacres at 12.20pm yesterday.

But the passer-by heard her screams and clambered on to a porch roof to haul her through a bedroom window and safely on to the ground below.

Fire chiefs say a smoke alarm, which gave the girl warning, and his quick actions, helped save her life. Oldham Fire Station Watch Commander Mark Beswick said: “It was quite a gallant thing to do as there was a lot of smoke coming out of the premises at the time.

“The house had a smoke alarm, which did operate and alerted the girl. She did the right thing, which she was taught at school, that if you are trapped in, shut the door, cover the bottom, shout for help and get out safely. She did not suffer any injuries but was a bit shaken.”

The fire started around a TV and quickly spread, filling the house with thick, deadly smoke.

The teenager’s mum is away in Pakistan and her dad and younger sister had popped down to the shops just before the fire broke out and arrived back to find the house gutted.

The girl’s aunt, who did not want to be named, said the family had been badly shaken by the incident but praised the passer-by, whom she does not know.

She arrived at the house just after her niece had been rescued.

She said: “A man who was going for a walk heard her shouting and climbed up and helped her out. He’s a very kind and very brave young man.”

A neighbour said she had seen people rush up the street to help, but did not know the rescuer.

She added: “We just heard all the shouting. Lots of people raced up to help and they were all very quick.”