Mum collapses with shock after fire rescue drama

Mike Prince and Chris Ridsdale braved the heat and choking smoke to drag the 17-year-old from the kitchen of his Golborne home after a chip pan caught fire.

The drama, at 7.30pm on Sunday, happened just five weeks after 22-year-old Mike, of Oak Avenue, Golborne, was treated in a hospital burns unit after an accident with a deep-fat fryer.

And hours before they rescued the teenager from a house in Holly Road, Golborne, they had been at Golborne St Thomas's Church where Mike's second son, Adam, was christened, and Chris was a godparent. After the christening, the pair were leaving a reception at Golborne Sports and Social Club when they saw the blaze.

They rushed to the rescue and hauled the teenager to safety and tackled the blaze before emergency services arrived.

When the teenager's 38-year-old mother returned home, she collapsed when she saw what had happened.

The boy and his mother were taken to hospital but later released.

Mike -- who plays prop forward with Golborne Parkside rugby league side -- and Chris had to be given oxygen after suffering the effects of smoke.

Reluctant hero Mike did not want to talk about his part in the rescue.

But his dad, John, of Harvey Lane, Golborne, said the way the pair reacted was typical of their unselfish attitude.

He said: "They don't want to be classed as heroes, but they realised somebody needed help and were ready to provide it.

"Just a few weeks ago, Mike himself suffered burns which put him in Whiston hospital and have prevented him from playing rugby so far this season."

Station officer Larry Green, of Leigh Fire Station, said: "The men took the right action to extinguish the fire and got the boy out safely."

And a fire service spokesman advised on the need to take care and never leave a chip pan unattended.

HERO: Mike Prince and his son, Adam, hours before the drama

at the christening and the towering duo -- Mike stands at 6ft 5in and weighs 20.5 stone and Chris isn't far behind