Man and woman escape house fire

A woman has been rescued from an overnight house fire in Glengormley, County Antrim, after she ran back into her home to save her dog. The blaze broke out in the living room at the house at Sandyknowes Park at about 02:00 GMT on Friday morning. A man and woman managed to escape the blaze but she went back to try and rescue the dog. She was overcome by fumes in an upstairs bedroom. Firefighters managed to bring her and the dog to safety. The man then collapsed outside the house.

Both people were taken to hospital. Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening. Assistant Group Commander Mark Beresford said they had a lucky escape. "It could have proved fatal if the fire crews had not been so close to the property. "What they should do is to get out and stay out. We will enter the property and hopefully recover the pet. But the pet's life is not worth one human life," he said.

The living room of the house was badly damaged and there was smoke damage throughout the house.