Man dies in hospital after fire

The man was rescued from the first floor of the Bosham house

A 53-year-old man has died after a fire broke out in the ground floor lounge of a property in West Sussex.

Fire crews were called to Merryweather Road, in Bosham, just after 0700 GMT by a neighbour who heard a window blow out and saw smoke and flames.

Crews from Bosham and Chichester arrived within six minutes and rescued the man found in a first floor bedroom.

The victim was taken to St Richard's Hospital, in Chichester, where he died shortly afterwards.

An investigation is under way to find out the cause of the fire, but West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it was believed to have been started accidentally in the lounge.

Toxic smoke

There was no smoke alarm in the property, which is 50 yards (46 metres) from Bosham Fire Station.

District commander Andy Horner said the fire had been burning for some time before the alarm was raised.

"If you are asleep in situations like that, you may be breathing in toxic smoke and drift into unconsciousness," he said.

"For the family and friends this is an awful shock and we extend our sympathies to them."

He said people should check that their homes and those of neighbours and relatives had a working smoke alarm.

"Firefighters did an excellent job searching the house in difficult circumstances, finding the casualty and bringing him outside to fresh air, but still their efforts were in vain."