Boy, 10, meets the Peterlee firefighters who rescued him from burning building after 'living nightmare' ordeal
A 10-year-old boy who suffered 40% burns in a fire has met the firefighters who pulled him to safety from the burning building.
Warning - this story contains a picture of a badly injured boy
Blaine Beattie, 10, and his 21-year-old brother, Cameron Beattie, were trapped in a burning flat in Peterlee in County Durham in December.
The pair were rescued by firefighters from the Peterlee white watch team, who tackled the blaze and pulled them out of a first-floor window.
They had initially been called to reports of a bin fire in the Forth Close area, in the early hours of 14 December.
But instead, they found a well-developed fire in a first-floor flat, which Durham Constabulary detectives are investigating as a suspected arson.
Other fire crews from Peterlee and Wheatley Hill, as well as other emergency services, also attended.
The brothers were given medical care before being taken to hospital, where doctors treated Blaine for 40% burns, while his older brother was treated for a burn to his right arm.
Sadly, a family dog died in the fire.
After two months in hospital, Blaine is now back home and last week, he visited Peterlee Fire Station to meet some of the firefighters who rescued him that night.
Blaine's father Paul said: "This has been the most awful experience of our lives, a living nightmare.
"We have moved into a new home and Blaine will go back to school next month. As we start looking towards the future I thought it would be helpful for Blaine to meet the firefighters who saved him and his brother.
"To everyone involved in his rescue - thank you so much, there aren't really words to express our thanks."
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Watch manager Mick Corfield, who was on shift the night of the fire, said firefighters are "always thinking about the people that we've helped and wondering how they're getting on".
He added: "With Blaine being so young, and me being a father of two boys, his story really stuck with me.
"That's why it was such a pleasure to have him come to the station and see him up and about but, most importantly, smiling.
"His road to recovery is still ongoing but everyone at the fire service continues to wish him well and will welcome him back to the station with open arms."
He added: "Looking at the photos of Blaine in hospital is difficult but it serves as a reminder just how dangerous fire is.
"That's why we will continue to encourage everyone to make sure they have working smoke alarms fitted in their homes and that people are testing them every week."
Detectives have re-issued an appeal for information about the suspected arson.
