A ‘HERO’ burst into a burning flat to help rescue a man who was asleep inside.

Daniel Khan, 24, had been visiting his mum in Conway Avenue, Blackburn, when he saw smoke coming from his friend Kenny Macfarlane’s home.

He said that after banging on the window and seeing Mr Macfarlane asleep on the sofa, he did not think twice about going in to help him escape.

Daniel said: “I just went for it. I could not think twice about it.

“My mum lives in the same building and Kenny has helped me out quite a lot so I just had to go in.

“I had just gone out for a cigarette in the sun because my mum has stopped smoking and as I went to sit on a bench, I noticed the fire.

“I started banging on the window and Kenny was asleep.

“I tried getting his attention, but it was hard.”

Mr Khan then began ringing the entry buzzers of all of the other flats in the building to make sure everybody was safe.

He was helped by Khalil Khan, who also lives in the block.

Daniel said: “As soon as the main door opened, I ran into Kenny’s flat and Khalil went upstairs banging on everybody else’s doors.”

The incident happened at 6.10pm on Tuesday and Mr Macfarlane, who is understood to be in his 40s, was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Yesterday morning, he was admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital after suffering from chest pains.

Daniel’s mother Zareena, 46, said she was very proud of her son’s actions.

The mother-of-four said: “I cannot say how proud I am of Daniel. He is a hero.”

Watch manager Paul Guinan said it was believed a chip pan, which had been left on a hob, was the cause of the blaze.

He said: “On arrival, there was a large amount of smoke percolating through the ground floor window of the flat.

“The occupant had made his way out with the assistance of a resident’s son.

“We tackled the fire which we believe was down to a chip pan left on a small domestic hob.

“There was not a massive amount of damage, but enough to cause concern.”