Man dies after fire

9:43am Thursday 24th July 2008

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A MAN has died after a fire ripped through his flat.

The man, who was disabled and in a wheelchair, died overnight after being rushed to Warrington Hospital following the fire yesterday afternoon.

He was named locally as Stephen Hennessy.

Firefighters were called to the fire, on Leicester Street, by neighbours who saw smoke billowing from the windows.

As they broke the front door down watch manager Gary Webb went to the back of the flat and entered through the patio door.

"I saw a wheelchair in the lounge and then I saw a pair of legs so we just jumped in and pulled him out," he said.

The man was conscious and was taken to hospital by ambulance, but has died overnight.

The fire originated in the bedroom. Firefighters are still investigating the cause.