Thanks for saving my life

REUNITED: Shoheb Ahmed meets his lifesaver, former police officer Adrian Raynor for the first time in 22 years

Shoheb reunited with PC who rescued him 22 years ago in house-fumes tragedy

Shoheb Ahmed has had an emotional reunion with the heroic policeman who saved his life 22 years ago.

Former officer Adrian Raynor has always wondered what happened to the three-month-old baby he saved from certain death in a house in Glodwick.

Now, thanks to the Chronicle, the pair have met for the first time since the tragic night that saw the young man’s mother die and his father left fighting for his life from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The reunion, in Royton, saw Shoheb (22), now a primary school teacher, living in Bradford, thanking the ex-beat officer for his courageous actions.

He said: “I was not expecting this and I am over the moon it has happened. I really wanted to meet him.

“I just have this blank picture of what happened on the night. Relatives can give you an insight into what happened, but Adrian was there.

“I just want to say thank-you to him.”

Adrian, who contacted the Chronicle in an attempt to trace Shoheb, recalled how he broke into Shoheb’s home in Retford Street, when he was on duty, finding the family unconscious in a fume-filled bedroom.

He found 21-year-old mum Tazeen Akhtar, her husband Iftikhar Ahmed in bed and little Shoheb on the floor.

In a frantic attempt to save their lives, Adrian plucked the baby to safety and later attempted to resuscitate the couple.

Tazeen died later that night in hospital and Iftikhar (22) died around three years later — resulting from the inhalation of the gas, dubbed “the silent killer”.

Adrian (49), who has lived outside the area for the past 11 years, said: “It’s still clear as day in my mind what happened that night.

“I just had a feeling something was wrong and I saw towels shoved against the bottom of the door — guessing they were trying to keep warm.

“In those days you had to go through your sergeant to gain entry into a house, but I’m glad I didn’t, because it could have been too late.

“It was such a tragedy what happened, but it’s great to see Shoheb all grown-up and doing well.”

Earlier this week, The ex-police constable’s actions were also commended by local councillor Mohammed Masud and his wife, Parveen Akhtar, who was also Tazeen’s sister.

Parveen, who lived on near-by Park Road at the time, sounded the alarm on the night after becoming concerned when she got no answer from the family several times during the day.

Cllr Masud said: “We appreciate the professionalism of Adrian’s actions and the emergency services on that day.

“Not many people were aware of carbon monoxide back then, it’s dangers and what it can do.”