Blaze kills pensioner

Graham Roy and Sean Haydon climbed ladders to Diana Dix's first-floor bedroom window, in Wigmore Road, Broadwater, as they tried in vain to pull her from the blaze at around 10.30pm last Wednesday night.

Neighbours looked on as the inferno engulfed the house as the men battled to save the grandmother-of-two.

Her 50-year-old son David, who moved into the house when her husband Tom died, was arrested that night and bailed pending further enquiries

Mr Roy, 38, who owns the Wig and Pen pub at the end of Wigmore Road, first knew of the blaze when former landlord Simon Dowling, 23, raced into the pub shouting "fire".

He said: "I couldn't make out what Simon was saying because he was wearing a motorbike helmet so I went outside and that's when I saw the house alight. I asked one of my bar staff to dial 999 and ran towards it."

When Mr Roy arrived he found Simon in the hallway dragging Mr Dix, who had passed out, through the front door.

He said: "Then Simon came back in and grabbed me because he thought I was going to do something stupid like climb the stairs, but it was impossible.

There was thick, black smoke and burning debris falling from the stairwell."It all happened so quickly. Outside, I looked up at the open window and the lady was stood there already blackened. Next, I shot up the ladder and tried to drag her over the window sill."

He held the frail pensioner by her wrists and elbows, coaxing her to jump out of the window into his arms before Mr Haydon, 38, climbed a second ladder to help.

Mr Haydon, a father-of-two who lives opposite, was watching television when his daughter ran into the lounge saying she heard screaming in the street.

He said: "The room was full of smoke and flames. The heat was intense. So unbearable I couldn't stand at the top of the ladder."

Mr Roy recalled: "I asked her to jump up or lever herself but she just kept repeating 'I can't'.

"I tried at one stage to climb up and lift her out but couldn't. Her nightdress had completely disintegrated '“ just burnt away in the flames."

Unemployed Mr Haydon said he was baffled as to why the two men failed to pull a lady weighing no more than eight stones over the window ledge.

He said: "We kept pulling and pulling but she just wouldn't come. We pulled for all our worth but it just seemed she was never going to come out. I couldn't understand it. She was just a little old lady."

Mr Roy said: "The burning debris was falling onto her hair and I had to keep brushing it off to stop it setting alight. It was just so hot. Not long after that she died in our arms. Her skin was very burnt and it was obvious she had died but nothing prepares you for seeing something like that.

"Not once did she scream or cry. She must have been in shock."

Minutes later, fire crews arrived and used hoses to spray water at the open window in an attempt to douse the flames coming from the bedroom.

Mr Roy added: "The steam and the water splashing off the building was scalding, like a cup of tea."

Firefighters in breathing gear took over and were able to get Mrs Dix out through the open window.

They tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate her '“ helped by an off-duty nurse. She was pronounced dead at Worthing Hospital soon after arrival.

Mr Haydon was suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation, while Mr Roy went back to the pub to change into clean clothes.

He made tea for firefighters and police officers while paramedics attended to Mr Dix at the pub.

Asked whether he considered himself a hero, Mr Roy said: "I did no more than anyone else would have done in my position. I was not just going to stand there and watch someone burning alive."

This week investigations into the cause of the fire, which also killed Mrs Dix's dog, were continuing.

Roy Barraclough, West Sussex Fire and Rescue district commander for Worthing, told the Herald they had not found any obvious accidental cause.

Mr Barraclough paid tribute to the pair's "brave" rescue attempts.

"I want to give credit to the neighbours who acted courageously. They tried desperately to save her life."

He also praised two firefighters who were injured.

Joe Sacco, 35, suffered badly burnt finger tips, which is expected to keep him off work for at least two weeks.

Tim Lezzard, 40, who received minor burns to his face and fingers, was able to return to work soon after hospital treatment.

Mr Barraclough said: "Although it is a firefighter's job, it took a lot of bravery to go on trying to save her despite getting burnt."

The following day, neighbours left flowers and messages in front of the house.

Marion Dix, 52, David Dix's ex-wife, said: "I am devastated. We were still friends. She was a lovely lady, and she didn't deserve this. It's tragic."