Flat blaze man fights for life

A MAN was fighting for his life after being dragged from a burning flat by firefighters in Coppice today.

Firefighters forced their way into the detached property in Park Street shortly after 2.30am.

A 48-year-old man was found on the stairs behind a door leading to a first-floor flat. The ceiling collapsed as firefighters tried to reach the man.

The first-floor was gutted in the blaze and a fire service spokesman said: “Fire crews forced their way through quite difficult circumstances and dragged the man out.

“He must have come downstairs and was found behind the door on the stairs. They dragged him out through a hole they had punched in the wall.”

The man was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital. A North West Ambulance spokesman said the victim’s injuries were potentially fatal.

One neighbour said: “People were coming out of their houses to watch but we were told straight away to go back in by police.

“There was so much smoke coming out of the house, I have never seen fire and smoke like that before.”

Around 15 firefighters from Oldham and Hollins attended the scene. Crews were still damping down this morning.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious and the cause is being investigated.