The hero who pulled an 89-year-old through the window of a burning Gisborne home plans on visiting the man whose life he saved.
Construction worker Timothy Morris, 37, and his friend were driving past when they noticed a house on fire on Aberdeen Rd at around 1am on Saturday and pulled over to help before emergency crews arrived.
"It was just the right place at the right time really," he said.
He said he saw the man pop his head out of a bedroom window in an attempt to escape the blaze.
"We were lucky to sort of get around to the front of the house and he had woken up in the smoke and tried to make a flee for fresh air, but he didn't quite make it."
Morris said he tried to pull the man through the window as quickly as possible without hurting him.
"I managed to pull him through the window while the smoke was running through his bedroom door and coming after us."
The 89-year-old was unconscious when he was first found, Morris said.
"He kind of came to, and he was a bit lost at the start and the poor guy was stuck there in his undies.
"I ran over to the neighbours and I said to the lady 'miss I need some pants'."
Once the man was safely outside and emergency crews had arrived, Morris and his friend left.
Police on Saturday made a public appeal for the rescuer to come forward to thank him for his actions.
Morris said he had gone straight to sleep, and it wasn't until the next day that it all sank in.
"It just kind of slipped my mind until I saw a post about it and then my friend mentioned it."
Police said the 89-year-old is recovering well in hospital, and Morris said he planned to visit him today.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Willis questions Labour’s commitments, and two people are hospitalised after a West Auckland incident. (Source: Breakfast)
SHARE ME