FIRE-FIGHTERS rescued an unconscious woman from her burning home in a dramatic rescue that saved her from the brink of death.
Pat McCrystal is lucky to be alive after a blaze tore through the Worsbrough home she shares with partner Martin.
As flames engulfed a downstairs dining area, it filled their terraced house with thick black smoke, knocking Pat, 54, unconscious as she was asleep in bed.
Martin said: "The worst things go though your mind. I couldn't get to her. I tried twice and got fought back.
"Two firemen busted the back door in and went and rescued Pat. They got her out straight away but she wasn't conscious or breathing.
"It didn't seem real. She was being resuscitated by the fireman, who were giving her CPR."
Crews from Barnsley, Tankersley and Cudworth were called the blaze just before 2am and Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Roberts has praised the medical intervention of the firefighters.
** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper, dated June 26. **
