9:33am Thursday 21st January 2010
Relatives of an elderly man frantically tried to rescue him after he collapsed during a fire at his home.
Two fire crews attended the blaze a house on Westhoughton Road, Adlington, at 5pm on Wednesday.
The fire, caused by an unattended chip pan, led to the ground floor being engulfed by smoke.
Watch manager Peter Bamber, from Chorley fire station, said: “On arrival we learned one person was missing.
“The occupant of the property had put his chip pan on to heat and then unfortunately left it unattended.
“He was later overcome by smoke and collapsed in his hallway.
“A neighbour heard a smoke alarm sounding and he and two relatives, who were coincidentally visiting, had attempted to reach the gentleman, but were unable to due to toxic smoke produced by the fire.
“An elderly gentleman was later located in the hallway of the property by officers.”
Paramedics treated four people at the scene, all suffering from the effects of inhaling smoke.
The elderly man was yesterday undergoing treatment in hospital.
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