A man is lucky to be alive after he cheated death in the latest car attack by arsonists at Southend's Kursaal Estate.

Kevin Chamberlain was found unconscious by firefighters as they fought the flames in a smoke-logged car park underneath Candy Steps.

He was overcome by smoke from a burning car which had been deliberately set on fire.

Three fire engines were called to the blaze at 1am yesterday (Thursday) - the 40th on the estate this year.

They were dousing the flames when one of the firefighters found the unconscious man in the corner of the car park. A firefighter spotted his trainers through the smoke.

Andrew Beale, Southend fire station officer, said: "He was extremely lucky we spotted him because the smoke was extremely thick and as we all know, it is the smoke that is the killer in most fires."

Mr Chamberlain, from Ruskin Avenue, Southend, who is in his early thirties, was taken to Southend Hospital where he received treatment for smoke inhalation.

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