Bridport heroes rush to the rescue in East Street fire

The K Yuen Chinese takeaway on East Street caught fire on Monday afternoon and local residents said they 'didn't take a moment' to run into the smoke-filled building to help those inside.

Nicole Gibson, owner of nearby The Colmer bar, witnessed the fire and saw two men run inside to help.

READ: Takeaway owners on East Street in Bridport thank community

She said: "There was thick brown smoke billowing around and the wind was taking the smoke straight up Barrack Street.

"I spoke to a man and wondered why no-one from the Chinese restaurant was stood outside.

K.Yuen Chinese takeaway on East Street caught fire on Monday afternoon (Image: Andy Jones)

"I thought 'surely no one was in there'.

"I went in and I saw a man run into the smoke and I thought he shouldn't be in there, then two more men ran over and just ran in selflessly.

"It was the most terrifying thing."

She said everyone at the scene appeared to be in shock. 

"One guy went in with a fire extinguisher and a handful of Bridport locals didn't take a moment to think.

"People look after their own and some people just have the ability to kick into hero mode."

Pete Butler, the owner of Bridport PC Repair just up the road, rushed into the building when he heard there were still people inside.

He said: “I was told there was a big fire opposite, so I poked my head out and saw people around.

“I thought someone should get over there and make sure everybody was ok.

“So, I went over and got them out.

“I tried banging on the flat door and then me and another guy started banging on the window. We went down and around to the front door. Between us we managed to get them out.”

After making sure the occupants were safe, Mr Butler left and returned with a fire extinguisher, but by then he says the blaze was too large.

He added: “It all happened in about three or five minutes. There was a lot of oily smoke, but I have worked in a lot of kitchens so that was nothing. Then I came back and got back to work.”

READ: Fire at takeaway on East Street in Bridport 'accidental'

Two of the men who ran into the burning building were Clive Thorner and Shaun Craven.

Clive, owner of nearby CT Motorcycles, said he was 'no hero' and just did 'the right thing' as he rushed into the smoke-filled takeaway.

He said: "I didn't think about it until after, it was getting smoky so I pulled my overalls over my face.

"A woman had a baby in her arms and once she said no one else was in there, I said we had to get her out.

"I got her out and Shaun took the baby.

"As far as I am concerned it was about calling the fire service and getting everyone out."

The road was closed as firefighters tackled the blaze on East Street (Image: Rebecca Lloyd)

READ: Fire at East Street in Bridport

Shaun, from Bradpole, had been dropping off his own child's bike to Ride, a bike repair shop on East Street, and had parked his car at Clive's motorbike garage.

He said: "As I walked up Barrack Street, Clive was talking to someone, so we walked back down and someone shouted there was a baby and mum in there - so I ran in.

"It was a haze of smoke, so I took the baby off her and took her into the Lord Nelson pub.

"I had to [go in], a minute later we may not have been able to get in or out.

"I was only in there 15 or 20 seconds."

Around 40 firefighters were called to the blaze on East Street (Image: Andy Jones)

Phil Gibbs, owner of Stand Proud Tattoo on South Street, was another eyewitness to the pair being led to safety.

He said Shaun was the 'man of the hour' and that Jason Foote from Footeprints printers was in the building 'throwing water on the fire' when he go on the scene.

Phil said: "I looked through the door and could not see anything, it was full of smoke.

"I crawled into the kitchen and it was going up the extraction. The woman and the baby and Jason were in there and I didn't know who else was in there.

"We told her not to go back in as there was smoke everywhere.

"When I got home I thought I would not want that to happen to me and I just did what people should do."