Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus carried the man to safety and other crew members then used a defibrillator machine, heart massage and oxygen to resuscitate him.

After a desperate effort he began breathing again.

He was rushed to hospital where he was later said to be stable but suffering from lung damage due to smoke inhalation.

Fire broke out in the ground-floor flat at Cumberland Court in Headingley at about 3.30am on Saturday morning. The blaze was caused by an unattended chip pan.

The fire triggered a smoke alarm but the occupant of the flat is believed to have been deeply asleep in the living room.

Fire crews from Leeds central fire station in Kirkstall Road, backed up by a crew from Cookridge, attended.

Leeds crew manager Ron Taverner said: "It was a serious fire. We went in with beathing apparatus and located a male adult in his mid-20s, unconscious and appearing to not be breathing, on the floor of the living room.

"The property had a fire alarm which activated but he did not respond.

"They brought him out. There was no ambulance so fire crews applied the defibrillator and cardiac pulmonary resuscitation - heart massage - and oxygen.

"After a short while the casualty started breathing and came round.
Shortly after that ambulance staff arrived and he was handed over to the ambulance who took him to Leeds General Infirmary.

"The latest update we have is that he is stable, but he has sustained significant inhalation injuries.

"The crew certainly did a good job.

"We do want to emphasise the dangers of leaving cooking unattended."