A hero firefighter who risked his life to save others in the King’s Cross underground station fire 20 years ago has died.

Paul Hale , a much-loved family man, fisherman and musician who lived in Minster, died at the Wisdom Hospice, Rochester, on Thursday last week.

Mr Hale, 59, joined the London Fire Brigade in 1974 but left in 1991 after suffering from post-traumatic stress brought on by the events at King’s Cross.

Originally from Islington, north London, the father-of-three went to St John’s and The Westlands School in Sittingbourne.

He joined Bowater Paper Mills’ fire service, aged 16, and then the fire service on Sheppey as a retained firefighter.

On November 18, 1987, while with Soho red watch, he was called to the blaze which had broken out at King’s Cross underground station.

Hearing a voice calling “help me” he managed to get the person out of the station alive. The casualty was so badly burned there was no way of telling if it were a man or a woman. Mr Hale never found out.

He joined the prison service in 1999 and worked as an operational support grade officer at Standford Hill Prison, Eastchurch, before retiring last year.

Mr Hale was a keen fisherman and also played bass guitar in several local bands. In 1964 he was in a group with friends, The Starlights.

His widow, Jeanette , described her husband of 37 years as a “much-loved” father and grandfather of nine.

She said his death, which followed a six-month battle with motor neurone disease, had left a big gap.

“Paul was loved a great deal by everyone and, of course, his grandchildren. He was the key to the whole family, and we are a very close family.

“He was well-known and respected across the Island and since his death everyone is saying positive and lovely things, and that’s all he would have wished for.”

He also leaves three children, Kevin, Jackie, and Nick.

Mr Hale’s funeral will be at Holy Trinity Church, Sheerness, at 1pm on Monday.