(Picture by Tom Tardif, 0657541)
A COUPLE who were rescued from their blazing Town flat spoke yesterday of their ordealKevin Davies, 47, and Tracey Enticott, 41, who have been together for four years, said they felt lucky to be alive. The couple said it would have been a different story had it not been for a smoke alarm in the property.
Mr Davies, who turned 47 on the day of the fire, had been out celebrating with friends, returning home at about 11pm.
The fire broke out just after 2am on Sunday and is believed to have been started deliberately. ‘It was lucky that it worked,’ said Miss Enticott. ‘We wouldn’t be here. We would have just slept through it.’
They were woken by the alarm and found smoke billowing outside their bedroom. Their exit was where the fire was burning, so the couple had no option but to climb onto the roof.
‘Tracey got out through the window and I followed,’ said Mr Davies.
‘I thought she had fallen as the drainpipe collapsed. We just hung on to the window screaming for a good 15 minutes.’
They had managed to wrap themselves round the window and gutter brackets, hoping that help would arrive.
Mr Davies thought that passers-by would have heard their cries, but assumed it was drunks in the street.
Miss Enticott, who is scared of heights, said they tried to climb onto a flat roof at the top of the property, but were unable to grip the slates. A crowd had gathered below and Uma Ali, owner of the Sitar Indian Restaurant, which the flat is above, arrived and put the fire out.
‘A lot of people were saying go back inside as the fire’s out, but the smoke was billowing and I knew I didn’t have the strength to go back in and walk down as I knew I would collapse,’ she said.
‘But then an ex-fireman appeared at the window saying it was all right to come back in.’
The unknown man then pulled Miss Enticott back into the flat just as she felt she was about to let go and fall.
Both she and Mr Davies were taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
She said the experience has left her traumatised and unable to go back into the flat.
‘That flat was our lives. I can’t live there again now.’
The flat was blackened throughout by smoke and the entrance where their coats and shoes were stored was turned into a pile of ash. They believe it was these items which were set alight.
They are staying at friend’s houses until they can find permanent accommodation.
But Miss Enticott, who lived in the flat for seven years, said she would never live above a shop or restaurant again.
Article posted on 21st October, 2008 - 2.30pm
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