A heroic HGV tanker driver from Bristol has won the trip of a lifetime to Florida after saving a woman's life. Neil Luton, who works for waste management specialist CSG, rescued Krishnakali Sinha from a house fire whilst working in Wiltshire last year.
In the "Place on the Plane segment" of last week's episode (April 1) of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Neil was gifted a sun-soaked holiday to Florida, where he has now jetted off to. The competition on the popular ITV show rewards 200 heroes and community stalwarts by flying them to Florida for its season finale, which takes place this Saturday, April 8, at the Orlando Universal Resort.
The incredible prize winners also visit the resort and get access to a British Airways exclusive lounge at the airport to make their trip extra special.
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Neil, 40, earned his "Place on the Plane" after helping save a woman caught up in a dramatic house fire at Greenlands in Heytesbury, Wiltshire last year. Saturday Night Takeaway presenter Ant McPartlin said that Neil was a "real-life superhero" as he was unexpectedly handed the golden envelope in front of six million viewers up and down the country.
"I was having a great time and cheering along as the Place on the Plane winners were being announced," Neil explained. "I couldn't believe it when Ant stopped in front of me and presented me with the last ticket of the series.
"It's an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
In February 2022, Neil spotted smoke coming from the roof of Krishnakali's home. His instincts took over, and he decided to see if there was anyone trapped inside the property in need of assistance.
As he tried to enter the house, he was beaten back by smoke and flames. But he didn't give up, and took it upon himself to go around the back of the property and stand on a table, which enabled him to make contact with Krishnakali, who was 62 at the time.
Neil then coaxed her out of the window and onto the roof of a single storey extension. A neighbour provided a ladder and Neil guided her to the edge of the roof before grabbing her feet and helping her climb down to safety, wearing just her dressing gown and slippers.
Her husband Mukul Kumar was downstairs when the fire started and had already managed to escape. At the height of the fire, 35 firefighters battled the blaze.
Neil was only at the location as he had cleared a septic tank for client Selwood Housing earlier that day and wanted to double-check he had secured the lid on the tank. Neil said: "I don't think of myself as being a hero.
"I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and acted instinctively. I've never looked for praise or prizes, but I am proud of what I did to help."
Krishnakali said Neil was "a godsend" and that she would not have escaped without him. Neil was awarded a Chief Fire Officer's Commendation and a Bronze Medal from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire for his actions – as well as Employee of the Month at CSG.
David Cashmore, CSG Group Operations Manager, said: "We are all immensely proud of Neil and how he put his own safety on the line to rescue Krishnakali. He’s a fantastic member of the team and we're delighted that he can enjoy this amazing trip to Florida."
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