'Heroes' rescue family from fire

Pc Mark Challender says he acted instinctively

A police officer and two ambulance staff have been praised for rescuing a family from their burning house.

Four people, including two children, are being treated in hospital after the fire at Molyneux Street in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

Paramedic Martin Collier, 42, technician Sean Brady, 37, and Pc Mark Challender pulled the family from the house before fire crews arrived.

The cause of the fire, on Wednesday afternoon, is under investigation.

The three men went into the house, where they found two adults and two children unconscious in an upstairs bedroom.

Mr Collier carried a two-year-old boy from the house, Mr Brady took the woman and Pc Challender rescued a three-year-old girl.

Their actions are nothing short of heroic and we cannot praise them highly enough Derek Cartwright Greater Manchester Ambulance Service

All three men then went back into the house to rescue the man.

A second police officer, Pc Nick Benson, drove the ambulance to hospital to allow paramedics to treat people at the scene.

The 36-year-old man and 44-year-old woman are being treated in the intensive care unit at Halifax Hospital.

The boy is in a stable condition in Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, and the girl is recovering at Rochdale Infirmary.

Both Mr Collier and Mr Brady were treated at hospital for smoke inhalation and superficial burns, but were released late on Wednesday night.

The cause of the fire is being investigated

Derek Cartwright, Director of Operations for Greater Manchester Ambulance Service, said: "I have spoken to Martin and Sean and although understandably shaken, they are just relieved they were able to get the casualties out of the house and start life-saving work on them.

"Their actions are nothing short of heroic and we cannot praise them highly enough."

Superintendent Peter Dawson, from Greater Manchester Police, said the two officers involved in the rescue "did a wonderful job" and were "a credit to the force".

He added: "As police officers, a major part of our role is to protect people from harm, which is exactly what happened yesterday afternoon.

"The incident was also an excellent example of the way in which the police, fire and ambulance services work together and I would like to extend my thanks to all the individuals involved."