Tonight:
4°c
A passing worker rescued a newborn baby and a toddler from a burning building today as their parents screamed for help.
Stephen Blackman, 50, was pasting up a Tesco poster next to Edmonton Green railway station at 5am when he saw flames coming from an off-licence in Church Street and heard a man shouting.
Mr Blackman ran towards the blaze with his ladder. “Anyone would have done the same,” he said. “I could see a woman at the window [of the flat] above the shop. She had a bundle in her arms — I didn't realise it was a baby until I climbed up. I tucked the baby under my arm and carried down her three-year-old. That little boy clung to me like his life depended on it. He was terrified.”
The father-of-two, who lives in Waltham Abbey, Essex, said the children's parents climbed down the ladder after him seconds before fire engines arrived.
Fire crews rescued another six people trapped in a flat above The Candy Shop, next door to Booze and Co where the blaze broke out. But as soon as they arrived Mr Blackman disappeared.
Selvaraj Thandavel, who works in the sweet shop, said: “It was like a superhero. The family was trying to thank him but he just shrugged his shoulders as if to say no problem' and walked off.”
Ten people were treated for smoke inhalation and it took 20 firemen two hours to tackle the blaze, whose cause is under investigation.
Mr Blackman said he was embarrassed to be called a hero. “Afterwards I was in shock which is why I disappeared. I didn't want a fuss.”
Reader views (10)
i had tears in my eyes throughut the whole clip on fox news,. what a heartwarming story - after all the negative, lying, nontransparent news(as we were promised), to see this man pull the boy out of that bldg. and give cpr (of which he had no experience) & cleaned out his mouth and nose - and pumped his chest - the boy began breathing - this is the most heartfealt act of humankind i have ever witnessed. why can't we have more people like you, stephen, instead of people running away from disasters as this. YOU ARE DEFINITELY A HERO IN MY BOOKS - AND DON'T EVER FEEL THAT YOU ARE NOT!
- Marlene Vicknair, laplace, la, 01/10/2009 16:24
Report abuse
What a hero!! Be proud Steve, we're all proud of you x
- Charlene And Mia, London, 29/09/2009 22:16
Report abuse
This is the best news story of the week.
Salute you Stephen Blackman - and echo what others say.
You are a hero.
- Jane, London, 22/09/2009 17:18
Report abuse
What a great guy you are Stephen, and very humble too by the sounds of it. Just think if you were not around that poor family may have perished in the fire. A hero you definitely are!
- Tina, Middlesex, UK, 22/09/2009 16:30
Report abuse
Give that man a pint of john smiths then a monte christo cigar and then a medal for such bravery-definately a hero
- Karl Tingling, london, 22/09/2009 16:13
Report abuse
AT LAST A real good news story. Now let us see a picture of this brave man on the front page of every newspaper tomorrow. A bravery award would be good too.
- Mj, East Anglia, 22/09/2009 16:08
Report abuse
Well done Steve, News just reached Worcester. We are so proud of you
- Laz, Worcester england, 22/09/2009 15:53
Report abuse
He'll probably get a letter telling him that he should not have done that as he didn't have any "health and safety" training.....good on you old boy. 'Bout time a real hero surfaced.....
- Concerned, London, UK, 22/09/2009 14:45
Report abuse
Well done Stephen - a true quick thinker. It's so nice to hear of people taking action rather than standing back and watching the drama unfold.
- Smb, London, UK, 22/09/2009 14:05
Report abuse
A real hero, not like some of these so called celebs.
- Mick, London, 22/09/2009 13:10
Report abuse
