A FRAIL husband today owes his life to the incredible bravery of his elderly wife who dragged him out of a fire which engulfed his bedroom.

Simon Tomlinson

A FRAIL husband today owes his life to the incredible bravery of his elderly wife who dragged him out of a fire which engulfed his bedroom.

The woman, known as Yvonne, dashed to her husband Ken's aid at around 3am on Saturday morning as flames swept around him.

Neighbours woke to screaming and feared the couple, who are believed to be in their 70s, had been killed.

But they and the fire service were dumbfounded to discover that the pensioner had mustered unbelievable strength to pull him to safety down the stairs.

Firefighter Gary Fry said they found the pair in the kitchen as the inferno ripped through the entire top floor of the terrace house in Gosford Way.

He added: “The fire was very, very severe. Without a doubt, she saved his life. If she hadn't have been there then I think he would have died.

“The elderly lady was alerted by her smoke alarm - there was one upstairs and one downstairs and they both activated. She then went into her husband's room - who is very frail - and managed to drag him down the stairs.”

Mr Fry, watch manager at Felixstowe fire station, believes the fire started from a TV in the husband's bedroom after he fell asleep.

Seventeen firefighters from Ipswich and Felixstowe spent three hours bringing the blaze under control, he added.

Neighbours have also spoken of their astonishment after believing the couple may have been killed.

John Hendery, 67, said: “She is a hero. I don't know how she did it. I thought he was caught in the fire.”

Thomas Forsdick, 24, dialled 999 and banged on the other neighbours' doors to get them out of their houses amid fears the blaze would spread. He added: “Where she got the strength from I will never know.”

They said Ken was not very mobile because he suffered from arthritis and the couple sometimes slept in separate rooms because his condition makes him restless at night.

The victims were conscious and breathing, but were taken to Ipswich Hospital by paramedics, where they were recovering over the weekend.

The extent of their injuries is not known, but Mr Forsdick said he spoke to their daughter, who said they were due to be discharged from hospital yesterday and taken to sheltered accommodation.