A MODEST rescuer says he does not feel like a hero despite pulling an semi-conscious neighbour from a burning house.

Ben Wilson, 21, was at home in Medlar Close, Witham, when he heard a loud bang across the street which he said “sounded like a fuse exploding”.

He said: “I heard screaming as well and I looked out of the window.

“ The first thing I noticed was the smoke. It didn’t look like there was too much at first but it was very black.

“I got around there and it had intensified quite quickly.

“A man was hanging out of the bathroom window. A woman was shouting at him trying to get him out but he wasn’t really talking back.”

Mr Wilson entered the property, using a wet item of clothing as a shield for his mouth and made for the upstairs bathroom.

He said: “When I got to him I wet a towel and placed it over his mouth.

“He mumbled something to me but he was on his way to becoming unconscious. I then realised it would be more difficult than I thought.”

Luckily Brogan Dearing, a partner of one member of the family, had also rushed inside to help.

The duo dragged the man downstairs and out of the building, before the fire service arrived at the scene around ten minutes later.

Four fire crews from Witham, Chelmsford and Great Baddow entered the property at 3.30pm on Thursday and extinguished the blaze by 4.30pm.

The occupants of the house were alerted to the fire which had started in a first floor bedroom by a smoke alarm.

Since the incident Mr Wilson has received messages of support from friends, family and people who have heard of the rescue via Facebook.

Mr Wilson said: “I don’t really like the attention. Yes, it is a brave thing to do and I did put my life at risk but in my head I assessed the situation first.

“I do think if I and Brogan had not been there then that man might not be alive.

“I didn’t want to stand there and do nothing then find out later that someone had died and I could have done something. I would not call myself a hero.”

The fire luckily did not spread to neighbouring properties but the first floor has been badly damaged and the rest is smoke logged.

Two people were left in the care of the ambulance service suffering from smoke inhalation and a man in his 40s had symptoms of reduced alertness.

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental.

A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service said: “We want every home in Essex to have the excellent protection of working smoke alarms.”

To contact the fire service, which can fit smoke alarms free, call 0300 303 0088 or book online at www.essex-fire.gov.uk/book.

A JustGiving page has been set up to benefit the family who “lost everything” in the house fire.

Family friend Helen House set up the page and is hoping to raise at least £1,000 to give them a helping hand in rebuilding their lives.

Donate http://bit.ly/2sTstvm.