A MAN has been seriously injured after a fire in Westcliff

Firefighters tackled the blaze in a house which has been converted into flats in Shakespeare Drive. 

Crews were called at 10.25am after passers-by reported the house was alight. 

Crews from Southend station's red watch gave first aid to a man who has suffered burns and is unconscious before paramedics arrived. 

The man, in his 40s, was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford by an air ambulance which landed a field behind nearby Gainsborough Drive.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the building used a one hose reel jet to fight the fire.

Three fire engines in total were sent to the scene.

Paramedic officer, Dave Rivers who attended the scene said: "The man suffered severe burns and was unconscious so on arrival crews managed his breathing.

"Our HART team were on hand to help manage the scene with the fire service as air crews administered drugs and anaesthetised the man, before he was flown to Broomfield Hospital."

For the full story, see tomorrow's Echo.