It was a routine Sunday night driving his family home with no thoughts of becoming a hero – until his wife noticed flames in a flat window.

The blaze was at a ground floor apartment almost opposite
Larkfield fire station.

With smoke belching out and the fire swiftly taking hold, John Nicholls leapt out of his car, leaving wife Kellie and their two young children behind.

His first move was to dash over to the fire station for help, but the crew was already out.

So the 36-year-old decided to handle the situation himself and booted in the door of the Kingfisher Road flat.

Flames and black smoke greeted him in a room with no lights on. Near to choking he discovered 25-year-old dad of one Wesley Barnes semi-conscious on a sofa.

Mr Nicholls managed to stand him up and slowly lead him safely outside.

Then he went back inside, found a washing-up bowl, filling it six times throwing it over the blazing sofa, carpet and curtains.

By the time two firefighter crews arrived from Larkfield and Maidstone just six minutes later, hero John had put the fire out and saved a man’s life.

His wife Kellie, 29, said: “I’m so proud of him but at the time I could have strangled him for doing what he did.

“I didn’t know whether to kiss or kill him.”

Mr Barnes, a maintenance highways worker, had nothing but praise for his life-saver.

He said: “I owe my life to him without a doubt. I had been asleep and the smoke must have got to me. It was a very brave act and I can’t thank him enough. No words can put across how thankful I am.”

Mr Barnes received medical attention at the scene.