Firefighters saved a man's life after battering their way into a smoke-filled home today.
They fought their way into the semi-detached council property in Westhoughton, near Bolton, before finding a man believed to be in his late 50s unconscious and unresponsive in a bedroom.
The firefighters from Hindley and Atherton arrived on the scene within five minutes and crews wearing breathing apparatus forced their way into the house as smoke billowed from the windows.
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They carried the man, who was not breathing, out of the house and performed CPR on him immediately. He came round before paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service arrived to take over.
The man was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where it is understood his life is no longer in danger.
Incident commander and Wigan station manager Chris Evans hailed the response of the crews from Hindley, Atherton and Bolton who all arrived at the scene of the blaze in Thorn Well within five minutes of the call out at 8.30am.
Mr Evans also praised a next-door neighbour who saw flames ripping through the kitchen of the house and immediately called 999.
Mr Evans said: "The neighbour and the crews who got there so fast and reacted the way they did have saved this man's life. It's so pleasing to have this sort of outcome at this time of year."
He said that the cause of the blaze was under investigation by police and fire experts, but it was not believed to have been suspicious.
And he went on: "We have also established that there were no working smoke alarms fitted in this property. I would urge householders to make sure they have smoke alarms fitted and that they are working."
Advice and help fitting smoke alarms is available by visiting the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service website here.
