AN 87-YEAR-OLD man has urged every household to get a fire alarm after people rushed to his aid and saved his life – after hearing his sensor going off.
Ivan Morley, of Thrunscoe Road, Cleethorpes, was dragged out of his house after collapsing through smoke inhalation – because neighbours and passers-by heard his alarm.
The pensioner has now recovered and is back at his home – and is appealing to others to get a smoke alarm and make sure it is tested.
He said: "If they had come any later, I would have been finished – and they came because they heard my alarm going off.
"People ignore car alarms and even burglar alarms, but when they hear a fire alarm they come running – every home should have one."
Mr Morley said he had fallen asleep at the weekend while cooking chips and when he woke up, his house was filled with smoke.
He had gone back inside to put some trousers on but had collapsed when he got into his bedroom – but luckily, help arrived.
The pensioner praised the quick-thinking of neighbour Andrew Fox, who helped him get outside, and his daughter Danielle, who alerted her father when she heard the alarm sound.
And he also praised the heroics of two 17-year-olds who came to his aid first but disappeared shortly after he was safe. He has since discovered that the young men were Franklin students Conor Billam and Jordan Richardson, both 17.
He added: "People always say bad things about young people but these two didn't even hesitate – what they did was really something.
"They even spoke to my son on the phone afterwards to ask if I was OK.
"That young girl who heard the alarm and told her dad was great as well – what she did was absolutely vital.
"Without them and the emergency services, I wouldn't be here and I really can't thank them all enough."
Jordan and Conor said they were walking down Thrunscoe Road when they saw smoke and heard the alarm.
Conor, of Daggett Road, went in the house first but found the smoke overwhelming and phoned the emergency services for help.
Jordan, of Dudley Place, Cleethorpes, then went into the house with Mr Morley's neighbour, Mr Fox, and the pair helped the 87-year-old outside.
Jordan said: "We went inside and couldn't see much because of all the smoke but he was on the floor when we found him.
"He didn't have any trousers on so I searched around and found a blanket on the bed."
Mr Morley's son, Craig, also wanted to thank the four have-a-go heroes for their efforts.
He said: "I have no doubt that if it weren't for them, my dad wouldn't be here today."
You can get advice on smoke alarms and home safety visits by calling 0300 303 8242 or visiting www.humbersidefire.gov.uk
