Hero neighbour saves elderly pensioner from burning house in Havant

Hero Billy Prowting, 37, dashed into the home in Plaitford Grove, Havant, on Sunday just before 7pm after a microwave with food inside had caught fire.

Upon entering the kitchen, Billy discovered the struggling pensioner, who has dementia, attempting to battle his way out of the house using a tea towel.

Billy then ‘dragged’ the man outside before having the presence of mind to unplug the microwave and remove it from the house.

The father of three, who was alerted to the fire by his daughter Lilly-Mae after she spotted the fire out of her window, said: ‘I got a phone call from my daughter saying the house was on fire so I jumped up and went into his house.

‘There was quite a lot of smoke but I found him in the kitchen with a tea towel - he couldn’t see where he was but I dragged him outside.

‘I didn’t give a thought to going into the house - it happened so quickly. Anyone would have done it. My daughter did well to notice it and tell me.’

Billy along with his wife Carly and daughters help the man with shopping and other tasks during lockdown. He added: ‘He was cooking food and forgot about it. I’m just glad he’s alright. He wouldn’t have got himself out.

‘He’s a lovely fella. We just do our bit to help him.’

A spokeswoman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Cosham and Havant were mobilised at 6.58pm to the blaze.

‘There was a small fire in the microwave which was out on arrival. Crews carried out an inspection only and the stop message came in at 7.19pm,’ the spokeswoman said.

It was another good deed for selfless Billy in the space of a few days after the owner of Maebill Builders and Groundworks paid for a nurse’s petrol after she was short of money.

‘She only had £10 on her so I told her to fill the tank up and paid for it,’ Billy said.

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