A BRAVE man jumped into action to save a life when he spotted smoke coming from a flat.

Joe Linnen, 23, was walking home along Elm Road in Shoebury on Friday night when he saw smoke coming from a flat on the ground floor of a three storey block.

When he ran over to look inside the flat, he saw a man lying on the floor, and knew he had to try and help.

Echo:

Police are at the scene of the fire today

Speaking to the Echo, Mr Linnen said: “I was walking over the bridge near the park, I’d just got to the bottom near the field and I started to smell smoke.

“I looked over to the flat block and I see where it’s coming from, it was billowing out of the windows on the ground floor, the flat was just puffing out smoke.

“I shouted ‘is there anyone in there’ but got no reply. I took a look through the window and I see a man just lying on the floor.

Echo:

The flat has been completely destroyed

“I thought quickly of what I should do, and I knew I had to get in there and help him, so I kicked the door down, ran inside and hauled him out.

“He was nearly unconscious, but I think he was just about aware that I was helping him and he was breathing.

“I shouted up to the flats and said they needed to get out because there was a fire. A girl who lives in a flat above rang the ambulance and then got herself out.

“The ambulance came quickly and they started to treat him.”

“Unfortunately he had a dog in the flat which sadly died. I tried to go back in to get it, but it was just too hot."

The fire started at approximately 10.20pm last night, with fire crews managing to extinguish the blaze by 11pm.

The flat was completely destroyed, but none of the other flats were damaged.

Echo:

An investigation is being carried out to determine the fire's cause

Mr Linnen, who lives in Shoebury and works as a painter and decorator, said his actions were “the right things to do”.

He added: “I just did what anyone else would have done, I knew I had to do something to help him, that’s all it was.

“I wouldn’t consider myself a hero, I’m just a Good Samaritan who was in the right place at the right time.”

The man, in his 40s, was treated by ambulance crews at the scene for smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital.

Essex Fire Service are investigating the cause of the fire.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Police were contacted by the fire service at 10.25pm on Friday March 8 following reports of a fire at a property in Elm Road, Shoeburyness.

"A man in his 40s was treated by paramedics at the scene and was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

"An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway."