KEY POINTS:
A Papatoetoe mother worked frantically to revive her 4-year-old son after he was pulled unconscious and covered in soot from a burning house.
The boy had been inside the Shirley Rd unit with his 2-year-old brother when the blaze broke out just after 10.30 yesterday morning.
Firefighters believed that the fire was caused by the children playing with matches on the couch while their mother and aunty were sleeping.
Fire Safety Officer Ray Coleman said by the time the adults realised there was something wrong thick toxic smoke had filled the small home.
A neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Kimberley, said the adults and youngest child fled without realising the 4-year-old was still inside.
"The mother came running out [the back door], they all came around the front as I was trying to ring the fire brigade, then she grabbed the firehose. She tried to put the fire out but didn't realise her son was still inside."
Moments later the woman realised and "started freaking and screaming for help". Her cries were heard by a man on the street who hobbled up the driveway on crutches. He smashed a window and called out to the boy, whose screams could be heard coming from inside the Housing NZ unit. Then they stopped.
"I could hear him screaming but then we suddenly heard nothing," said Kimberley, who was still shocked by the ordeal last night.
As fears for the boy's safety increased a 19-year-old neighbour arrived and kicked in the glass front door, which had been locked. He rushed into the burning room and was greeted by the aunty who had gone back in through the back door and found the boy unconscious.
"She had him in her arms then she gave the child to him and he brought him out the front. I was really terrified, his head was flipped back and he was covered in smoke. The mother then started mouth-to-mouth."
Kimberley, who was back on the phone getting medical advice, relayed orders on how to care for the boy.
The boy regained consciousness at the scene where he was treated, with his family and the neighbour, before being taken to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition.
