A firefighter has been hailed a hero after he was injured saving an elderly woman from her blazing home.

Wethersfield fireman Paul Stock dragged Kathleen Goodchild, 85, out of the blazing Ironbridge farm, Ironbridge lane, Shalford, near Braintree, on Thursday night.

Firefighter Stock and a colleague entered the smoke-filled home wearing special breathing apparatus. They found Mrs Goodchild unconscious on the floor suffering from smoke inhalation and minor burns.

Mr Stock, of Wethersfield, also suffered smoke inhalation when a terrified and confused Mrs Goodchild pulled off his face mask as he carried her from the burning building.

An 86-year-old man and a woman in her mid-80s left the house unaided. Fire crews from Braintree and Wethersfield attended the scene.

Mr Stock and the three elderly residents of the farmhouse were taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, where today Mrs Goodchild was said to be stable. Following oxygen therapy, Firefighter Stock was allowed to return home.

Station Officer Paul Gardiner of Braintree fire station said: "The crews performed exceptionally well."

The living room of the farmhouse was badly damaged by fire and the rest of the house was heavily smoke logged.

Fire investigators will start an inquiry.

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