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Man saves grandmother as fire engulfs home

Castell Family Images of Chris Castell and his grandmother. He is sitting in a car and wearing a seat belt. The grandmother is sitting outside in a chair and eating a plate of food. She has white hair and is wearing a black vest.Castell Family
Chris Castell (left) has been hailed a "hero" by his family after rescuing his grandmother (right) from a burning house

A man saved his frail, 81-year-old grandmother after fire engulfed their family home.

Six fire crews were called to the blaze on Marton Road, in Sturton by Stow, near Scampton, shortly before 14:00 BST on Friday.

Chris Castell, 31, who shares the property with his parents and grandmother, managed to get his elderly relative down two flights of stairs to safety.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said the blaze was caused by an electrical fault within the roof space.

An outside view of the aftermath of the house fire with a ladder leading up to the top windows which are completely gutted with no roof
Several fire crews were sent to Marton Road, in Sturton by Stow, on Friday afternoon

Mr Castell's grandmother was taken to a hospital in Nottingham where she was due to undergo skin grafts for burns.

His mother, Geraldine Castell, said: "If Chris hadn't got my mum when he did, they would have both perished in it.”

Neighbour Dee Hardman, who along with a passer-by helped in the rescue, said the incident "happened so fast".

He recalled: "Chris came bundling out of the smoke with grandma still on the landing.

"He then crawled back up the stairs with his torch. Chris and grandma were sliding down the stairs and we managed to get hold of them and drag them out."

Geraldine Castell wearing a grey jumper with mid-length blonde hair standing next to Carl Castell also wearing a black jumper with their former kitchen in the background
Geraldine Castell, pictured with husband Carl, says their son Chris saved his grandmother's life

Mr Hardman added: "How Chris went back, I just don't know. It's scary to think if we hadn't moved when we did I don't think Chris would've come out.

"I don't class myself as anything special but I'm a neighbour and I helped."

Ms Castell said the family had “lost everything” and were now living in a caravan.

"It's total and utter devastation," she added.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by Ms Castell.

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