Blaze rescue man is 'modest hero'

A "reluctant hero" who rescued a neighbour from a burning house has been praised by fire chiefs.

David Smith, 39, broke through the front door of the house in Griffin Road, Clevedon, on Saturday afternoon.

He found his 19-year-old neighbour overcome by smoke on the first floor and pulled him to safety.

Avon Fire Brigade spokesman Gary Carr-Smith described Mr Smith as a "reluctant hero" and said he had been very modest about his actions.

"He smelt smoke coming through to his house and heard the smoke detectors going off, " said Mr Carr-Smith.

"Mr Smith had to break through a glass panel on the front door to gain access. He went to the room where the fire was and found the occupant under the bed and dragged him to safety.

"It was a very unselfish rescue without thinking of the consequences and it worked out very well."

Fire crews from Clevedon and Nailsea put out the blaze and four firefighters used breathing apparatus to make sure there were no other occupants inside.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated.