Hero rower saves pensioner from fire (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hero rower saves pensioner from fire

WORLD champion rower Peter Reed has been hailed a hero after pulling a pensioner from a blazing house on his way home from training.

The former Cirencester Deer Park pupil carried the elderly man to safety when he saw smoke pouring from an upstairs flat in Oxford.

The 6ft6ins gold medallist, said: "The smoke was almost like liquid - it was condensing and running down the walls.

"There was an old man who was struggling badly and having difficulties breathing so I picked him up and carried him out."

A middle-aged woman has been charged with arson in connection with the incident, which happened last week.

The Royal Navy sub-lieutenant won coxless four gold for his country at the World Championships in Japan this year.

James Methven, the Dean of his Oxford College Oriel, described his actions as "heroic".

He said: "Peter obviously has the physique to go in and get people out, but you also need the inclination to get in there."

But the modest rower, who called 999 before entering the smoke-filled building, said: "It wasn't heroic, anybody would have done it.

"I'm a member of the armed services, so I've done a firefighting course before as part of my training.

"I wasn't worried for my own safety, and I tried to stay as calm as possible."

But having carried the pensioner out, the GB star went back into the blaze to help rescue a woman slumped on the stairs as the corrider filled with smoke.

Peter said: "There was another bystander who had come to help. When she realised there was a woman who was in trouble she came in and persuaded her to leave.

"I'm pleased the emergency services came quickly. I've never had to call 999 before, and it's not very nice to be involved in something like this. I am just glad there was somebody there to help."

Doug Minter, station officer at Oxford Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We obviously don't encourage people to go into this sort of situation because the toxic products in smoke can be very dangerous, but if they understand the risks then they can make a reasoned assessment.

"We applaud his actions - it meant there were fewer people for us to save."