A neighbour has told of his desperate attempt to save a woman and three children from a house fire in Perthshire.
Despite the brave efforts of a neighbour and his son, a 66-year-old woman died in the blaze in her home in College Place, Methven on Friday.
Three children were taken to hospital after the fire which was discovered around 11pm.
The man and his son were also taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
Children were screaming for help
The neighbour, who has asked not to be named, described his brave rescue attempt and his fears when he heard children screaming for help.
The man, who lives next door to the property in Methven, said he was watching rugby when he heard a loud bang.
He said: “I rushed outside in time to see the upstairs windows being blown out of the house next door.
“There were flames shooting out of the window.
“I got my son to dial 999 and then he and I went into the house.
“We heard the children screaming and yelling and saying ‘what do we do, what do we do’?
“We knew we had to get in there to try to help.”
He added: “We broke down the door and were met by two of the children downstairs.
“We got the two children outside and then we just reacted.”
The two men put wet towels around their heads and faces to try to protect themselves before attempting to go upstairs.
The neighbour said: “We started to go up the stairs but the flames were so fierce – I have never seen anything like it.
“They were like rolling flames, it was hellish, just horrific.
“I told my son to grab my ankles and we crawled our way upstairs.”
They managed to get to the top and thought they could see the woman and child.
However, by this time the flames were getting worse.
He said: “My son yelled that we were going to have to get out – the roof was away to cave in.
“We had no alternative – we had to get out of the house. I have never seen anything like that.
‘There was nothing more we could do’
“There was nothing more we could do.
“We tried to get to them, we really tried but there was nothing we could do.”
The pair made their way back downstairs where neighbours had already taken care of the two children the man managed to get out.
He said: “The fire brigade arrived shortly afterwards and managed to get our neighbour and the boy out of the house.
“Sadly it was obvious there was nothing they could do for the lady.
“They worked on the boy and then got him away in the ambulance.”
The man and his son grabbed garden hoses and tried to soak anything wooden they saw in a bid to stop the fire spreading.
He said: “There were huge embers flying everywhere and we were worried that out own house could catch fire.
“I think I’m still in shock and I’m absolutely devastated that we couldn’t save the lady but thank goodness we managed to get the children out.
“I’m so grateful I heard what was happening and we were able to go to help.
“The fire was at the back of the house and I think it had been burning for some time before the explosion I heard.
“It could have taken so much longer to realise what was happening and the outcome could have been even worse.”
Joint investigation
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.30pm on Friday officers were called to a report of a fire at a property on College Place, Methven.
“Emergency services attended and a 66-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
“A 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital for treatment. A further four people were taken to hospital as a precaution.
“A joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is ongoing.”
Area Commander Jason Sharp, of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We were alerted at 11.05pm on Friday, 4 August, to reports of a fire affecting a two-storey detached property on College Place, Methven.
“Operations control mobilised four appliances and a height vehicle to the scene.
“Tragically, a 66-year-old woman passed away and our thoughts are with the family at this time.
“Five casualties were taken to hospital.”
