Emergency services were today praised for saving five-year-old Luke Simmonds, who collapsed during a blaze at his home, writes Roseena Parveen

Firefighters from Slade Park, Oxford, were the first to arrive at Cotton Grass Close, Greater Leys, after receiving a call from neighbours late at night.

Wearing breathing apparatus, they fought their way through thick smoke and intense heat to climb the stairs and rescue the boy, who was unconscious.

Luke's mother Sandra Simmonds, 41, had already escaped, guided through the smoke by the light of a neighbour's torch shining through glass panes in the front door.

Assistant Divisional Officer Nigel Robinson, said the Slade Park crew lost no time in establishing that the boy was trapped and found him immediately. Three ambulance crews were on their way, but firefighters resuscitated Luke.

Mr Robinson praised the efforts of 30 firefighters, three ambulance crews and police, who worked together to rescue Luke.

He said: "Without a doubt the efforts of everyone involved saved this boy's life.

"All the emergency services worked well together from the moment control room received the call to the moment Luke was in hospital, it could not have been done faster."

Luke was later transferred from Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital to a burns unit at the Broomfield Hospital, Essex.

His mother was treated for smoke inhalation at the JR.

Investigations were today continuing into the cause of the fire, which is believed to have been accidental.