Police are praising the actions of an off-duty volunteer firefighter who rescued a Havelock North woman from her burning flat, saving her life.
The woman is recovering in Hawke's Bay Hospital after fire broke out at her flat in Te Mata Rd, where she was alone on Friday at 11pm.She escaped during the fire and raised the alarm at a neighbouring house.
But she later re-entered the burning flat in search of her two cats. Police Detective Rob Parker said an off-duty Havelock North volunteer fire officer, who was unwilling to talk to media, was nearby at the time and went to investigate after his pager activated. He arrived before emergency services.
The officer was met by neighbours in the flat's driveway, who told him that the woman was safely out of the house.
But he couldn't find the woman. He found the flat's front door slightly ajar and kicked it open, and called out to her.
He was just about to leave when he heard an answering call.
Mr Parker said the fire crew hadn't yet arrived so the officer decided to go inside. The house was "fully involved" and the smoke layer was about 50cm off the floor. The fire officer crawled into the house and found the female occupant lying semi-conscious on the floor and dragged her outside to safety.
The house was extensively fire damaged. The rescued woman was admitted to Hawke's Bay Hospital's intensive care unit in a critical condition. A hospital spokeswoman last night said she was in a stable condition.
The fire officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, also suffered minor burns to his hands. "We believe that the quick actions of the off-duty fire officer, without regard for his own safety, have saved this woman's life," Mr Parker said.
