Off-duty firefighters rescue pair from flat

It is thought the fire started in the bedroom

A man and a woman have been seriously injured in a fire in County Antrim.

Firefighters were called to a flat on Gregg Street, Lisburn shortly after 1830 BST on Saturday.

Another woman was also slightly injured when she jumped from the first floor flat to safety.

Two off-duty firemen and a retired firefighter were at the scene within minutes of the alarm being raised and began rescuing the occupants from the flat

Billy Charteris: The off-duty fireman noticed the flames as he passed the building

When a fire crew from Lisburn station arrived, firefighters with breathing apparatus forced their way into the smoke-filled flat and dragged a woman to safety.

Minutes earlier, the off-duty firemen helped a teenage girl get out of a window and pulled a man in his 40s to safety after he was overcome by fumes.

The investigation into the fire is continuing but fire chiefs said without the speedy response of the off-duty firemen and a first aid officer from the nearby leisure centre, the outcome could have been much worse.

Assistant Divisional Fire Officer John Wilson said the quick action of those at the scene had helped save lives.

"Undoubtedly the very prompt and very brave action of the public, made a difference," he said.

"The fire was very well developed, and the two off-duty officers and the retired gentlemen, who retired from the service 10 years ago, made an enormous difference.

"Not only were they able to rescue the female occupant but they were able to give vital information to the first crew that arrived so they were able to do their job even quicker."