Girl, 7, critical after flat fire

A seven-year-old girl was fighting for her life today after suffering 80 per cent burns in an horrific flat fire in Wolverhampton.

See also: Investigation into horrific flat fire

Aunt praised for bravery

The girl’s aunt battled to save her from the blaze in Newbridge, which broke out in a bedroom. The 47-year-old, who suffered 45 per cent burns, has been hailed a heroine by emergency services.

She also helped get a four-year-old boy out of the flat who suffered burns to his hands.

Investigations were centering around an electric heater in the bedroom. None of the flats are believed to have a gas supply.

Today scorched toys, including Disney films and games, were lying in plastic bags outside the rented flat at The Lindens, Newbridge Crescent.

Neighbours told how they heard a child shouting ‘nanny, nanny’ as the blaze took hold just after 11.20pm last night.

Shahla Willis, aged 40, who lives nearby, rushed with her boyfriend to see what was happening. “My boyfriend saw the children being taken out.

“They were able to talk because the police asked about their mum and one said: ‘She’s not our mum, she’s our aunt’.”

Patricia Bannister, aged 71, who lives in an adjoining flat, said: “I was preparing for bed around 11pm and I thought I heard a woman’s voice shouting ‘nurse, nurse’ and then a little girl shouting ‘nanny, nanny’. She sounded frightened.”

A neighbour in her late 50s suffered smoke inhalation but was due to be released from hospital today. The girl is in a critical condition at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Her aunt is in the specialist burns unit at Selly Oak Hospital.

By Becky Sharpe and Marion Brennan