Man dies following fire in flat

The building was already well alight when crews arrived

A man has been killed in a fire at a flat in County Tyrone.

Fire crews were called to the property on the Tullnacross Road in Cookstown just after 2100 GMT on Saturday.

The building was already well alight when crews arrived. A second man in the flat received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation. He has been released.

Senior divisonal officer Ian Doyle said the fire may not have ended in tragedy had a smoke alarm been fitted. It is thought the fire started accidentally.

"We committed five firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and with two firefighting jets," he said.

"Very quickly, the crews inside the building located a male who had unfortunately died in the fire.

"This is regrettable, because a working smoke alarm may have prevented this unfortunate loss of life."

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old woman has been rescued from a fire at a first floor flat in County Down.

The blaze at the property at Balloo Walk in Bangor was discovered at about 2130 GMT.

Station Officer Philip Martin said the woman had a lucky escape.

"The fire was so severe it had blocked the escape route for anybody that was on the first floor," he said.

The woman was taken to hospital for observation and is understood to be suffering from shock.