TO THE RESCUE

A QUICK-thinking expat has saved the life of a middle aged man from his burning home on the Costa del Sol. Brit Thomas Barnes heroically risked his life to enter the burning building in Fuengirola and pull out the Spanish occupant.

Barnes, 31, had been working at his farther’s jewellers shop, Anthony’s Diamonds, when he heard shouting outside and saw smoke coming out of a nearby apartment.

He ran out and immediately climbed up a ladder other neighbours had placed there, taking a fire extinguisher with him.

Over the course of the next 10 minutes he was handed another four extinguishers, which he used to battle the blaze alone.

Eventually he emerged to help the man out of the back exit.

Hero Brit pulls man from apartment fire on Costa del Sol

EXCLUSIVE

By Walter Finch

“Thomas saved the life of a man who didn’t know what was happening,” his father Anthony told the Olive Press.

“The old fella was just sitting there in the smoke. He must've been in shock,” he continued.

“Thomas brought him out and then went back in for the woman in the bedroom but he couldn’t get through.

“Black smoke was billowing down the corridor, dangerous jet black smoke.

“Two times he went in to bring her out, shouting and calling for her. It was really brave, but sadly he couldn’t somehow reach her.”

The dramatic scenes were caught on video showing Thomas on the balcony of the first floor apartment talking to people in the street as smoke pours out around him.

Flames

The fire, which broke out on Calle Ramon y Cajal around midday, was quickly put out once the emergency services arrived. According to police, two men, aged 45 and 52, were taken to hospital in an ambulance for emergency treatment. Meanwhile, one woman in her seventies died, leading to the town hall to call a day of mourning on Friday.