Source: Gold Coast Bulliten

05Jun07

A GOOD Samaritan saved a woman's life by dragging her from a burning home at Labrador last night, before he disappeared into the darkness.

Witnesses said the mystery man kicked down the door of the women's Coventry Court duplex about 6.20pm and raced in to save her.

"I was too scared to go in," said Christie Somers, who was walking home from a friend's house when she saw the flames take hold.

"We saw the coffee table on fire then the flames just spread to her couches and curtains and then just everything was up in flames."

Ms Somers said the mystery man went in to help without hesitation.

"He had to kick down her door because it was locked," she said.

"Another two guys later followed him, yelling 'is there anyone else in there'."

The mystery man then emerged from the blaze carrying the woman, who was lapsing in and out of consciousness, and laid her down on the grass in front of the burning duplex, said Ms Somers.

Local resident Miriam Harris said the women seemed to be seriously ill.

"She wasn't responding at all, she wasn't very lucid," she said.

Firefighters administered first aid to the woman before she was transported to hospital by ambulance.

Last night the woman was in a stable condition in Gold Coast Hospital recovering from smoke inhalation.

While the men managed to save the woman they were not able to save her dog which died in the blaze.

Dane Pamizaa, who lives opposite the house, said he tried to get into the duplex to save the dog but was thwarted by the furious flames.

"I couldn't even get near the front door it was so hot," he said.

"It was all in flames, the whole living room was up in smoke and fire.

"I wanted to go in and save the dog but I couldn't see the dog, all I could see was flames."

The blaze destroyed more than 80 per cent of the women's duplex.

Firefighters, however, managed to stop the fire spreading to the duplex which adjoins it.

"Due to the prompt and efficient actions by firefighters we were able to contain the blaze to the first duplex," said Southport fire station officer Anthony Nicoloff.

"We were here within six minutes."

Mr Nicoloff acknowledged the heroic actions of the mystery man.

He said it did not appear the woman had smoke alarms in her duplex, making the fact she escaped alive even more of a miracle.

"She was very lucky," said Mr Nicoloff.

Once the smoke had settled there was no sign of the man who had dragged the woman from the inferno.

"We don't where he is, he's gone," said Ms Somers.

"I think he left pretty quickly but what he did was very brave."

The investigation into the cause of the blaze will continue today.