999 hero saved the lives of 22 people after arsonist torched his own Blackpool flat before jumping out a third-floor window

Ambulance technician Dave Boardman, 42, has relived the moment he and his paramedic colleague Alan Mitchell raced towards a burning block of flats.

Alan, who has since retired, went to help firebug Martin Mulvey, who had barricaded himself inside his home before setting his bed on fire, after he leapt out of his third-floor window.

Dave, who lives in Thornton, rushed inside the smoke-logged building, thumping and kicking at doors to wake the residents who were fast asleep inside.

His quick-thinking actions, which started by chance as he drove near the scene while answering another call, have been credited with saving the residents' lives, though he has never been publicly recognised for his heroism.

Dave said: "I have always tried to dodge it really, until now. I try and brush it under the carpet. I don't go after glory."

And despite putting himself in hospital after breathing in toxic smoke and literally burning the back of his throat, former police officer Dave knows he wouldn't act any differently in the future.

"I reflected on it in A&E," he said. "I would still do the same again."

Mulvey, who smashed both his legs, his pelvis, and an arm plummeting to the ground, was jailed for five years for the arson attack, which wrecked his council flat in Rodwell Walk, Grange Park.

And although Dave said he doesn't spend too much time thinking about Mulvey, the fire service blasted the arsonist for his actions, telling The Gazette: "This incident could have had tragic consequences and it was only through luck that no-one was killed.

"To set fire to your own property not only puts yourself at risk, but it puts others at risk too. In this case, a paramedic was willing to put himself in danger.

"Firefighters were also putting themselves at risk when they were extinguishing the fire.

"We hope the punishment handed down will act as a deterrent to others and make them think twice before doing something similar."

The dramatic details of the blaze, which happened at around 11pm on Monday, February 26, 2018, emerged only recently in fire authority documents which said 54-year-old Mulvey caused £24,000 damage to Blackpool Coastal Housing's property.

Dave said he and Alan were in an ambulance driving down the hill in St Walburgas Road, towards the Plymouth Road roundabout, when he realised he could smell smoke, which he knew from experience was coming from a burning building.

The pair radioed back to the control room and followed the smell to the block of flats, where they could see smoke pouring from the rooftop into the dark night sky.

They then spotted flames through Mulvey's window - and a figure moving inside - as they rushed towards the building.

"There was a slight movement in the pitch-black," Dave said. "I thought it was a bin bag at first, but I heard a groaning noise."

Realising it was a person - later identified as Mulvey - Alan went to give first aid while Dave ran into the smoke to start evacuating residents.

Dave said: "I started banging and kicking on doors to get people out. I got answers from every door, but at some points I considered putting doors in to clear the flats.

"It took some time to raise people, but they must have realised there was a problem."

As Dave made his way upstairs towards Mulvey's flat, which was engulfed by flames and left little more than a charred shell, the toxic smoke got thicker and thicker.

"It became very dark because of the smoke," he said. "It was so thick I could not see the end of my hands. I realised I had to get out, but I was at the last door."

Dave burst out the building as firefighters on four engines - from Blackpool, Bispham, and South Shore - arrived to tackle the inferno.

"When I got out, I started coughing straight away," he said, saying adrenaline may have stopped him from feeling the effects of the smoke while still indoors.

"It became a fit. I just couldn't stop."

Dave was given oxygen before being driven the short distance to the Victoria Hospital, where he was given tests and discharged around four to five hours later.

And Dave, who has been an ambulance technician for eight years, even offered to go back to work - though his bosses told him to take the rest of his shift off.

The Lancashire Combined Fire Authority was updated on Mulvey's sentence for arson with intent, which was handed down in June at Preston Crown Court.

Members were told he "deliberately ignited a mattress and duvet which spread to other household items", with the damage branded "severe".

"The male occupant [Mulvey] had barricaded himself in the flat and, during the fire, escaped by jumping from the window, receiving two broken legs, a broken arm, and broken pelvis," documents said.

David Rigby, the North West Ambulance Service's manager for Blackpool and the Fylde coast, said: "I am extremely proud of all of our staff. They constantly put others before themselves and are extremely dedicated to caring for their patients.

“David went above and beyond that day, even risking his own life to save others. It shows true community spirit and bravery."

Resort councillor Tony Williams, who is the fire authority's community safety boss, said he now plans to campaign for the two heroes to be awarded for their valour.

He said: "What brave and honourable actions by the paramedics, who realised a property was on fire and risked their own lives to save 22 people.

"All our 999 teams put themselves in harm's way and danger to help save lives, and this is a perfect example or somebody going above and beyond the call of duty."

Coun Williams said he will be speaking to Blackpool's two Conservative MPs, Scott Benton for Blackpool South and Paul Maynard for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, senior fire officials, police officers, and council bosses to see how both Dave and Alan can honoured.

Lancashire Police said it did not have Mulvey's mugshot on file.