A MAN was being treated in a specialist decompression unit today after suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning in a fire at his flat above a Pendle shopping centre.

David Bear, 40, was found by firefighters slumped on the living room floor of the flat above the Victory Centre, Nelson, at 3.50am today after a neighbour raised the alarm. No-one else was in the flat. He was initially taken to Burnley General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and cuts but he had taken in so much smoke he was transferred to the specialist unit at Lancashire police headquarters in Hutton.

The decompression unit is normally used to treat divers who have "the bends" but it can also be used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sub officer Jon Pinner, of Nelson fire station, said: "The fire started in a pile of household junk behind the front door to the flat. We had to use a sledge-hammer to break down the door and it took us some time to get in.

"The flat was full of smoke. We did a search and found the occupier unconscious on the floor."

The fire, which started inside the flat, caused severe smoke damage to a hallway and four first floor rooms.

Police officers were called to the flat shortly before the fire after complaints from neighbours about loud music.

Sergeant John Fry, of Nelson police, said: "A neighbour rang us to say there was loud music coming from the flat and it sounded like it was being demolished inside. We went round and spoke to the man and calmed him down. About half an hour later we got a report of a fire at the flat.

"We are investigating the possibility the man may have started the fire himself. No-one has been arrested."

The blaze is being investigated.

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