A man who rushed into a burning Palmerston North house to successfully rescue a baby has been hailed a hero. Photo / Thinkstock
Do you have any more information on this fire?
Email us
A Palmerston North man who rushed into a burning building to save a 16-month-old baby is being hailed as a hero.
Emergency services were called to the blaze at a Wellesbourne St property at about 7am this morning.
The baby girl's parents had escaped the blaze.
A man in a neighbouring sleepout heard the pair's screams for their trapped baby and ran inside the burning building.
Fire crews gave emergency medical help to the baby when they found her "gurgling and grey" outside the house.
She was rushed to Palmerston North Hospital.
Fire Service Manawatu assistant area commander Rodger Calder said the baby girl was likely just seconds away from death.
He hailed the neighbour for his lifesaving actions.
"He's a hero there's no two ways about it. This is something he'll remember forever, and others will remember as well."
Mr Calder said the man was "modest" when he met him briefly to congratulate him.
The fire inside the house was extinguished at about 8am.
An investigation had been launched into the blaze, Mr Calder said.
'It’s amazing how much a line on a stick can change your life,' popular radio host says.