A LEIGH man was lucky to be alive this week after firefighters rescued him from his blazing home on Saturday.

Charles Balmer, 40, of York Street, was pulled unconscious from the bed in his first floor flat after a fire crew smashed down the door to reach him.

His life was saved thanks to quick thinking downstairs neighbour Ann Devany who raised the alarm .

She was baby sitting for her grandchildren when she noticed smoke seeping into the flat from upstairs.

Firefighters managed to reach Mr Balmer within 20 seconds of arrival and used oxygen to revive him on the pavement outside.

He was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary and later transferred to a special hyperboric unit at North Manchester General, which specialisies in the treatment of patients suffering from serious smoke inhalation .

He was later returned to Bolton.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "It was very fortunate he was found so quickly. If the neighbour had not raised the alarm so promptly he would have died. He was very lucky to survive."

The fire is believed to have started in the lounge next to the bedroom, possibly caused by a discarded cigarette.

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