A 54-year-old man was rescued from a flat fire in Hildersley, Ross-on-Wye, on Sunday morning (August 6th).

Two men, a 44 year old and a 38 year old, pulled him out of the "severe" fire in the ground-floor flat.

The emergency services were called shortly before 9.30am, and the West Midlands Ambulance Service treated the 54-year-old for breathing difficulties. He had been asleep in the flat and required further medical treatment, so he was conveyed to Hereford County Hospital.

The two men who performed the rescue were also checked over for smoke inhalation by the Ambulance Service, but neither wanted to go to hospital, so both were discharged at the scene.

A spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance Service told the Ross Gazette that it was their understanding that the two heroes were members of the public, but the 38-year-old was an off-duty firefighter.Fire crews from Ross-on-Wye, Whitchurch and Fownhope all attended the scene. They used hose reel jets and breathing apparatus to extinguish the blaze, and positive pressure ventilation once the fire was out. An investigation into the cause of the fire has been opened.