An off-duty firefighter who rescued a pensioner from his burning house on his way home from a busy shift has been hailed a hero.

Jon Bowles was looking forward to getting home to his wife Zoe and their 10-month-old daughter Poppy when he spotted a fire at a neighbour’s home in Long Catlis Road, Parkwood, on Sunday.

The young dad raised the alarm and went into the burning house to rescue the elderly man inside.

The fire had broken out in the lounge shortly after 10am and Mr Bowles, 27, who is a firefighter at Forest Hill fire station in London, had just driven past the property after finishing a night shift in the capital and spotted the flames.

After getting the man, in his 70s, out of the home, he was joined by firefighters from Medway who used breathing apparatus to go inside to put out the flames.

“It’s not every Sunday morning you look out of your bathroom window and see your husband run into a house over the road, then realise the house is on fire” - Mrs Bowles

They were at the house for more than four hours and the pensioner, who was given oxygen by the crew for the effects of breathing in smoke, was taken to hospital for further treatment.

Mrs Bowles said she was extremely proud of her husband’s efforts.

She said: “It’s not every Sunday morning you look out of your bathroom window and see your husband run into a house over the road, then realise the house is on fire.”

She said were it not for her husband, the man in the house would have died.

“Jon wouldn’t want to make a fuss but I think he should be recognised for what he did.”

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said: “It’s very fortunate that an off-duty firefighter was living nearby and his instinct coupled with experience enabled him to rescue his neighbour.

“Although his actions were incredibly quick, brave and selfless, there was considerable risk to his own safety, however he should be praised for helping to prevent a tragedy.

“It’s also important to recognised that Mr Bowles is a firefighter and faces similar situations like this with confidence.

“KFRS would always advise people not to enter a building that is on fire.”