Sutton Wizard Man Conrad Pugsley's beloved animals die in blaze (From Your Local Guardian)

Sutton Wizard Man Conrad Pugsley's beloved animals die in blaze

2:01pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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Wizard Man's beloved animals have died in a blaze at his home.

Self-appointed Wizard Conrad Pugsley “howled and sobbed” outside his home after he discovered the tragic news the following morning.

Conrad, who was out when the fire started on Wednesday night, is well known in Sutton and Croydon for carrying one of his cats, Zagan on his shoulders. It is thought another cat and a dog were also killed in the blaze.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I had been asleep on the sofa and woke up choking on smoke.

“When I realised the fire was coming from Conrad's flat I tried kicking on his door but I couldn't get an answer. I called the fire brigade and they were here within eight minutes.

“There was think black smoke everywhere. The firefighters got into Conrad's flat and his animals were dead at the door, they'd probably been trying to escape. It's terrible.

“Luckily Conrad wasn't there at the time. I heard him come back the next morning, he was sobbing and howling outside. His animals were his life, it's so sad.”

Zagan was once missing for over a week, in August 2008, when he was knocked over by a car in Wallington and broke his pelvis in three places.

Miraculously, the injuries which would usually keep a cat in hospital for up to six weeks, healed quick enough for Conrad to be able to take Zagan home after just over a week in the care of the vets.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade confirmed they were called to a fire in Durand Close at 12.42am on Wednesday night.

Two fire engines along with 10 fire fighters attended the incident which was brought under control by about 1.15am.

The London Ambulance Service did not attend and the occupier was believed to have been out of the house at the time.

A spokesman for Sutton Council said the Sutton Housing Partnership were working to find some alternative accommodation for the owner of the property.

Have you seen Conrad since the fire on Wednesday night? Call the newsdesk on 0208 330 9544