A grandfather became a human fireball after a kitchen explosion.
Mum-of-two Leah Beck was forced to extinguish the flames that engulfed Robert Pearson as she desperately tried to get her children out of their Newcastle home as the blaze took hold.
Thanks to the 23-year-old's quick thinking Robert escaped the fire without life-threatening injuries, although he suffered serious burns to his arms.
And the actions of Leah's 15-year-old brother Causey Smith, who helped get his two young nieces out thehouse, meant the whole family survived what could have been a lethal blaze.
But their pet kitten, Lola, perished in the fire, which also left their Etal Park home destroyed.
Friends and family are now rallying round Leah and her daughters Hallie, six, and one-year-old Harmony, as an online fund-raising page is set-up to help them get back on their feet.
And today Leah has told how despite losing her home and possessions in the blaze, she feels lucky that none of her loved ones were more seriously hurt.
She said: "What I saw was terrifying, it was horrible. I just knew I had to do whatever I could to get him off fire and get everyone else out the house."
"Everything I owned is gone. If it's not burned is smoke damaged .I'm just devastated with what's happened, but I just think what could have happened. It could have been so much worse."
Leah was at her home on Haggertson Crescent getting ready to cook the tea when the drama unfolded, at around 5pm on Saturday.
Robert, who she treats as a grandad, was at the house helping with some DIY, while Hallie was upstairs and Harmony was playing on the sitting room floor.
"I turned the oven on then all of a sudden there was an explosion that blew Robert half way across the kitchen," Leah explained.
Realising Robert was on fire Leah quickly rushed to his aid.
"I had to put him out," she said. "The fire had started right next to my water supply so I was just having to pat him.
"I was just panicking. Everything goes out your head. I didn't know what to do so I just did what I could, because I know how bad burns can be."
Meanwhile Hallie who had been upstairs ran out the house.
While Causey rushed to rescue little Harmony from the sitting room.
"I told him to just grab the kids and get them out the house," said Leah. "If my brother hadn't been there it could have been a lot worse."
All of the family were able to escape before firefighters arrived.
But after getting out the house Leah remembered that the families five-month-old kitten Lola had been in her bedroom.
"Me and Robert tried to go back into the house for the kitten but the house was full of thick black smoke and we couldn't breath or see."
When firefighters arrived they treated Robert's injuries before he was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary by paramedics.
Crews were able to bring Lola out the house and gave her oxygen, but she died later.
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "We can confirm we attended a house fire on Haggerston Crescent in Newcastle on Saturday evening.
"Our fire control received a call at 5:12pm and appliances from West Denton and Gosforth Community Fire Stations were on scene in a matter of minutes to bring the blaze under control.
"All persons self-rescued from the property before our arrival and one man was treated by ourselves before being left in the care of NEAS.
"Crews also administered oxygen therapy to a cat at the scene but unfortunately it later died.
"We believe the fire to be accidental and we will be supporting the families involved anyway we can during this difficult time.
"Our crews left the scene at 5:51pm."
Robert is still being treated in hospital and Leah and her children are staying with family while they wait to find out if they need to be rehomed.
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