A MAN was carried unconscious from a Southchurch takeaway after a suspected arson attack.

Firefighters rescued the 48-year-old from the Curry and Chicken King takeaway, in Sutton Road, shortly after 1.30am yesterday.

Crews from Southend and Leigh attended the blaze, which destroyed a lean-to and damaged the kitchen. The front of the property suffered smoke damage.

Barrie May, station officer at Southend, said: “The fire was in a lean-to at the back of the shop. While crews worked to put that out, other firefighters made a search of the shop where they found the owner unconscious behind the counter. The man was rescued by two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and had to be resuscitated by service personnel.”

The man, believed to be the shop owner, was taken by ambulance to Basildon Hospital and released after treatment. He is now helping police piece together the circumstances leading up to the fire.

Crews were called to the scene by a neighbour and the blaze was extinguished shortly after 2am.

Sutton Road and South Avenue were closed for around one-and-a-half hours. A police cordon remained at the scene yesterday afternoon to preserve evidence.

Essex Police spokeswoman Helen Cook said: “Detectives want to speak to anyone who was in the area at around 1am and may have seen anyone acting suspiciously or any vehicles.”

Anyone with any information should call Southend CID on 0300 3334444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.