Specialist care for man who escaped inferno

A MAN with severe burns who lost his five dogs in a house inferno has been transferred to a specialist unit.

He was moved from the intensive care unit at Torbay Hospital to Derriford Hospital's burns unit yesterday.

The dog owner, understood to be in his 20s, was badly hurt when an electrical fire started a blaze at his flat — one of four in a converted barn in Middle Blagdon Lane, Paignton on Saturday evening.

He is understood to have jumped out the window when flames spread throughout his ground and first floor flat.

He suffered a broken ankle and the burns in the incident.

A police spokesman said: "He was taken yesterday to the specialist burns unit at Derriford Hospital.

"His condition is quite serious but not life-threatening."

Five of his dogs are believed to have died in the fire which was tackled by up to 40 firefighters from Paignton, Totnes and Brixham for several hours.

His home was completely gutted in the blaze and yesterday no one had yet cleared any of the waterlogged charred debris.

Burst pipes continued to spew water among the burnt pieces of furniture and collapsed roof tiles.

Police confirmed the fire which mobilised six fire engines, the water bowser from Torquay and the command centre from Buckfastleigh, had been caused by an accidental electrical fault.