NEIGHBOURS fought their way through a smoke-filled house to save the life of an unconscious friend.

Debbie and Paul Tyler, of Richmere Road, Didcot, knew something was wrong when they heard neighbour Laura Delaney’s smoke alarm going off shortly before 7pm on Friday, and dialled 999.

They entered the house through the unlocked front door and discovered 64-year-old Ms Delaney passed out on the living room floor.

Another neighbour, former school cook Janet Looker, 69, also rushed to the scene, choking her way through black smoke in the kitchen to remove a burning frying pan from the stove.

Firefighters arrived within minutes and took Ms Delaney to safety.

Mrs Tyler, 45, said she had just returned home when her husband said he could hear an alarm going off.

She said: “We went round the back of the house and looked through the kitchen window and saw the smoke so we dialled 999.

“We were shouting and banging and then I thought I would try the door and it was open and we found her on the floor. We tried to move her and get her outside.

“We didn’t know if she had a fall but we couldn’t get her attention.

“It was thick with smoke and I had to get out, my eyes were watering and I was coughing. By that time the fire service had arrived and got her out. It’s something you just do, you don’t think about it.

“I wasn’t frightened. I was more worried about her than me because we’ve known her for a long time and she was one of my mum’s school friends.”

Mrs Looker, 69, has been friends with Ms Delaney for 26 years She said: “I just walked into the kitchen, took the pan off the stove and put it in the sink, just to stop the smoke as much as anything.

“There was a bit of toxic smoke and I suppose it did burn the back of my throat a bit but nothing to panic about.

“The smoke alarm definitely saved her life. I’m just very pleased she is alright.”

Ms Delaney was treated at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital for minor injuries and is believed to have returned home.

Crew manager Lee Newport, of Didcot fire station, said the fire broke out in the kitchen after a pan was left unattended. He reiterated the importance of installing smoke alarms.

He said: “It wasn’t a serious fire in terms of damage to the property but it was serious in the fact the person had to be rescued.

“There wasn’t a great deal of flames, but the pan was starting to give off toxic fumes.

“It was down to the speed and reaction of the neighbours that prevented the incident from being any worse.”

Mr Newport urged residents to check their smoke alarms once a week.

l For free fire safety advice and smoke detectors call 0800 032 5999, see the fire and public safety pages online at oxfordshire.gov.uk or email safety@oxfordshire.gov.uk