A NEIGHBOUR braved flames to rescue a schoolboy in a house blaze started by a candle.

Nathaniel Smith, five, who is understood to have suffered 80 per cent burns, is now fighting for his life at Newcastle General Hospital.

He was rescued by Joe Dorritt, who fought his way through thick, black smoke.

He was beaten back three times but on his fourth attempt he managed to reach Nathaniel, and carried the unconscious boy outside.

Mr Dorritt, 46, who is disabled, then tried to resuscitate Nathaniel on the pavement until the ambulance arrived.

Nathaniel was taken to Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, then transferred to Newcastle General Hospital.

His parents, Marika and Chris, both 44, and their two other children, ten-year-old Corrina and Andre, eight, who escaped the fire, were also taken to hospital.

His parents were yesterday keeping vigil over their son.

It is believed the fire at the semi-detached family home in Blackhill Crescent, Springwell Estate, Gateshead, started after a burning candle was left in the front bedroom of the house, where Nathaniel and his brother and sister were sleeping.

The three children woke up when the blaze started, at 1am on Sunday, and went to alert their parents, who were in the back bedroom.

The family fled the house, but somehow Nathaniel was left inside his parents' room.

Nathaniel's father had gone back into the house to find his son but was beaten back by the heat and smoke.

A spokeswoman at Newcastle General Hospital said Nathaniel was being treated in the intensive care unit.