A man was lucky to escape uninjured after falling asleep while cooking last night.

Firefighters from Croydon and Purley fire stations were called to Old Lodge Lane in Purley at 10.30pm last night, to reports of a pan alight.

The 32-year-old man is understood to have been cooking for his partner when he fell asleep on the sofa.

He was rescued by crews wearing breathing apparatus, who then extinguished the blaze.

One firefighter said: "He is lucky the door was shut or the consequences would have been worse."

The man was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance.

 

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