A passer-by who risked his life by forcing his way into a burning flat to try to rescue the occupant has been praised by police and onlookers alike.

Chris Bartlett took buckets of water into the flat on his stomach in a desperate attempt to douse the flames and pull the man free.

Although the 55-year-old victim, believed to be dad-of-two John Finnegan, died several hours later, Mr Bartlett was praised for giving him a slim chance of survival.

Mr Bartlett was beaten back by the intense heat from the fire and Mr Finnegan was later rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.

He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, but later transferred to the burns unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he died in the early hours yesterday.

Pc Paul Langford, who has been involved in a similar rescue attempt, said Mr Bartlett "should be given a big pat on the back" for his bravery in the fire, which broke out in Banbury Court, Abingdon, on Tuesday night.

"I have been there myself and it is like climbing into an oven," Pc Langford said. "The sheer density of the smoke makes your face feel like it's on fire within seconds."

Rodney Reeves, 58, who helped supply the buckets of water, said: "I think the other guy deserves a medal."

And Dion Raithby, another passer-by who witnessed the rescue attempt, said: "The guy did everything possible to try and put the fire out before the engines arrived."

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