FIREMEN had to enter a smoke-filled room in a residential nursing home without breathing apparatus to rescue a 75-year-old man.
The pensioner was unconscious in the smoking room of Parklands Home, on Homerton Road, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough, at 10.15am yesterday, when fire broke out.
Firefighters had no time to put on breathing apparatus so made what is called a snatch rescue.
Station officer Colin Gilchrist, of Middlesbrough Fire Brigade, said: "We just had to get in there as soon as possible and get him out because he was breathing in the thick, acrid smoke.
"We managed to get him out and gave him some oxygen so hopefully he will be okay."
Staff and residents were evacuated from the home while firemen put the fire out and cleared the smoke away.
The man was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Police and fire investigations suggest the blaze was started by a cigarette.
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