THE firefighter who pulled bodies of the Riaz family from their home has been sacked from his day job.

Retained firefighter Graham Gilsenan claims Blackburn firm JAS Timber did not give him enough support - an allegation refuted by the company which sacked him for unauthorised absences.

Mr Gilsenan has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as he struggles to come to terms with the horrific events in Tremellen Street, Accrington, five weeks ago.

Mr Gilsenan, 31, of Princess Street, Church, was signed off work from his job as a driver for three weeks following the blaze which killed six members of the Riaz family.

He went back to work for one day, but did not return after that and failed to obtain another sick note.

Mr Gilsenan, a part-time Accrington firefighter, was sacked for "unauthorised absences" by the timber company in Walpole Street, Lower Audley.

His bosses have said they tried to give Mr Gilsenan as much support as possible but that in the end they could not allow someone to fail to turn up to work.

Dave Haworth, Mr Gilsesnan's boss at JAS Timber, said it was "a shame" it didn't work out.

He said: "We have a business to run and people can't just not turn up.

"The situation couldn't continue. We had a meeting last week and decided that he would be sacked.

"We tried to give Graham as much support as possible and have always been understanding about his role as a retained fireman.

"After the fire he had time off and then had time off sick.

"He only came back for one day, then we didn't hear from him for six days."

But Mr Gilsenan, who had worked for the firm for six months, feels they should have been more understanding.

And he said that instead of turning up for work for his second day back he broke down while waiting for a bus near his home.

Mr Gilsenan added: "After three weeks off I felt I was ready to return but I wasn't.

"Things weren't helped by JAS who gave me almost no support.

"I was excited about returning to work but still very low.

"After that day two weeks ago I knew I couldn't do it. I couldn't keep going."

Mr Gilsenan last week revealed to the Lancashire Telegraph how he had been deeply affected as he pulled three of the casualties from the burning house six weeks ago.

The blaze killed community worker Caneze 39, husband Mohammed, 49, and their daughters Sayrah, 16, Sophia, 12, Alisha, 10, and Hannah, three.

The family's son Adam, 17, died on Monday after a long battle against Leukaemia.

He was in hospital being treated for terminal cancer at the time of the blaze.