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Halton: Blaze hero hailed after climbing to save teenager
A hero scaled a blazing post office in Halton to save a teenage staff member trapped in a flat above.
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Andrew Jefferys, a 27-year-old driving instructor, was on his way to his next lesson when he spotted smoke billowing from the post office on Halton Moor Avenue in Halton Moor.
Mr Jefferys, of Everest Driver Training, had been forced to bury his boyhood dreams of joining the fire services because of his poor eyesight.
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Mr Jefferys, an avid rock climber, scaled steel shutters at the front of the shop, clambered onto a parapet outside the first floor window, prised off a security grille from the frame and hauled the teenager to safety.
Fire crews from Gipton drew up outside and then rescued the pair from the ledge shortly after 12.30pm.
Both were taken to hospital where the girl was treated for smoke inhalation.
"It was lucky that I'd been home for lunch and happened to notice a family and staff outside the post office," said Mr Jefferys.
"I was at the right place at the right time.
"When I left school my first interest was to be a firefighter.
"Even now I have always kept up to date with fire safety."
The young woman had been with a group of staff who were having lunch in the flat above the shop .
A fire broke out in the kitchen, prompting staff and customers to evacuate, but the young woman went back for her mobile phone and got trapped inside the smoke-logged building.
Mark Hamilton, watch manager of Gipton, said: "If there's a fire situation get yourself out, make sure everyone else is out and do not stop to collect valuables."
He praised the efforts of Mr Jefferys as well as staff in the shop who got everyone else out safely.
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Weather for Leeds
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
