Hero dad saved two pensioners from burning Glasgow building

Quick-thinking James Kerr sprang into action after noticing his neighbours' top floor flat in Ibrox was on fire in the early hours of Monday morning. 

The 40-year-old raced across the street and started shouting to raise the alarm, before bursting into the property which was filled with smoke.

He spotted his 89-year-old neighbour's legs through the black smoke and put her over his shoulder before carrying her outside.

Brave James then re-entered the burning building to save her 70-year-old son who had been staying with her.

The property went on fire (Image: Sourced)

The dad ran into the burning home (Image: Mark Gibson)

He exclusively spoke to the Glasgow Times about the terrifying ordeal: “I don’t know where I got the bravery from, I wasn’t thinking about myself at all I just went to save them.

“If I didn’t do something it would have haunted me forever, it was just instinct to go and help.

“I don’t feel like a hero but I do feel good about helping them. I still can’t believe it happened.

“After I realised the place was on fire I started shouting for my neighbour's son and he managed to open the door and said his mum was still upstairs.

“When I got inside there was smoke everywhere and I saw his mother's legs. I couldn’t even see her head, so I just grabbed her, threw her on my shoulder and ran out.

“I then went back in for him because he had gone back inside to try and help. I couldn't leave him.”

Police, fire, and ambulances attended the scene (Image: Sourced)

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Mark ran into this building which was filling with smoke (Image: Mark Gibson)

James explained how he spotted the blaze: “I was up watching TV after a few beers and I heard an alarm go off, it wasn’t very loud and I thought maybe it was a car.

“It just kept ringing so I thought I better go check it out and then thought I could see some orange.

“I knew it was my neighbour's son and his mammy who struggled to walk inside, I really like them and just had to help.”

The victim's family spoke to the Glasgow Times about the incident and expressed their thanks to James for being so brave.

Marie Rooney, 62, said: “It was my ma and brother that survived the fire.

“They are both in hospital now recovering, I think they are going to be fine.

“James went in and saved them. I am really glad he was there, our family is thankful.

“He had heard the smoke alarm and ran up the stairs to help them, it was lucky.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 4.30am on Monday, May 13, to reports of a fire within a flat on Skene Road, Glasgow.

"Operations Control immediately mobilised four fire appliances to the scene and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire.

"Two casualties were handed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

"Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe."