A MAN is fighting for life after a blaze tore through his Canford Heath home this afternoon.

The victim, named locally by friends as John Appleby, suffered life-threatening injuries in the blaze, reported to the emergency services at around 4.40pm on Tuesday.

Three fire crews from Poole dashed to the semi-detached house in Beamish Road to tackle the flames, rescuing Mr Appleby from inside the house.

Paramedics desperately tried to resuscitate Mr Appleby on the lawn outside the front of his home, spending a further 30 minutes inside of the ambulance before he was taken to hospital, witnesses said.

Next-door neighbours Debra Pidgley and Jon Loffler raised the alarm after hearing a bang.

The couple both usually work at night, but luckily were at home as they have just returned from holiday.

Debra said: “I saw flames coming out of the house.

“I shouted to Jon to call fire brigade.”

Jon said the heat from the blaze was intense, adding: “It was like a furnace.

“Flames were shooting out.”

He said there was a lot of “popping and banging” as the fire consumed the property.

Mr Appleby, who is in his 60s, is a colleague of Debra’s and works at Tesco.

He has known the couple for seven and a half years.

It is believed the fire began in the kitchen of the house, located on the ground floor.

Fire fighters used four sets of breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets.

Three police cars were also seen at the house.

The property and a red Volvo were taped off by police.

Fire crews are investigating the cause of the blaze.