A 25-year-old woman has died and a man in his 60s is in critical condition following a house fire in Hampshire
A 25-year-old woman has tragically died and a man in his 60s is fighting for his life following a house fire.
A blaze tore through a home on Northlands Road in Totton, Hampshire, at around 10.50pm on Saturday night. It is understood the young woman was trapped upstairs while her parents fled the burning property.
Neighbour John Reid, who bravely tried to put out the fire, told the Daily Echo the “inferno” blasted through the front door, revealing what he described as a devastating “tunnel of flames” running through the house.
His wife, Jo, comforted the couple while firefighters arrived. She told the outlet: “I heard the mum and dad. They were in the back garden. Sadly their daughter – they couldn’t get her down.
“The smoke was acrid, I couldn’t even breath. I just got a chair and blankets and sat with the parents. They were in shock.”
Neighbour Janet Newman, 72, said she was saddened by the news, telling the Daily Echo: “Horrible, horrible, horrible. It is really sad. Dreadful. It is very quiet around here normally. I am just so sorry that someone lost their life.”
A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said a file would be prepared for the coroner ahead of an inquest.
They said: “Sadly, despite the very best efforts of the emergency services, a 25-year-old woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her next of kin have been notified.
“A man in his 60s, who was also inside the property at the time, has been taken to hospital and is in a life-threatening condition. We and our HIOWFRS partners will remain at the scene for the duration of the day as our enquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the fire.
“A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course. We would ask that people respect the family’s privacy at this unimaginably difficult time and refrain from any speculation.”
