THE prompt actions of her neighbour saved the life of sleeping Sheila Thompson after a fire broke out in her first-floor flat early yesterday.

Speaking just hours after being led to safety by fire crews, the 48-year-old antiques dealer told the Daily Echo: “I am so lucky to be alive; I was sound asleep and didn’t hear my smoke alarm going off.

“I had no idea my life was in danger until I woke to find a firefighter standing over me. It was a terrible shock but it could have been so much worse.”

The single mum’s life was saved by Stella Florentine, 48, who lives in the flat above in Christchurch Road, Boscombe, with her son David, 19.

Stella was watching a film when she smelt smoke wafting up from Sheila’s flat below. She said: “At first I thought it was just someone cooking; then the smell got worse and I heard Sheila’s fire alarm sounding.

“I ran downstairs and knocked on her door. There was no response and when I looked through the letter-box I saw smoke in the hall. I thought Sheila was out but ran upstairs and dialled 999.

“The man who took my call told me to get out so I quickly got dressed and got David and his girlfriend Emily outside. We knocked other residents’ doors as we left the block.”

Firefighters from Springbourne, Westbourne and Christchurch arrived within four minutes of the emergency call just at 2.10am.

After repeatedly calling and knocking on Sheila’s door, they forced their way into the property and used breathing gear to search the smoke-logged property.

She said: “I’d been out for the evening and was a bit peckish so I put two lamb chops under the grill.

“I was on my laptop but must have fallen asleep on the settee.

“When I woke my lounge was filled with smoke; I dread to think what might have happened if Stella hadn’t heard my alarm and rang 999. I am so grateful to her and the fire crews; they saved my life.”

Springbourne watch manager Martyn Gollop said: “Working mains wired smoke alarms are the best form of early warning of a fire.

“The alarm did its job; in this case alerting the neighbour to the fire. Unattended cooking is still one of the main causes of property fires and once again an occupant had a lucky escape.

“The prompt call from the neighbour and subsequent actions by fire crews meant this lady did not suffer any serious adverse effects from the smoke.”

An ambulance and police were called to the scene of the blaze but Stella did not need hospital treatment.