News

Elderly woman says she's 'lucky to be alive' after Derry house fire

Gemma McDaid recovering at her sister's home after an overnight house fire in the Creggan area of Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin<br />&nbsp;
Gemma McDaid recovering at her sister's home after an overnight house fire in the Creggan area of Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
 
Gemma McDaid recovering at her sister's home after an overnight house fire in the Creggan area of Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
 

AN elderly woman has described how "lucky" she is to be alive" after escaping from a blaze at her Derry home.

Gemma McDaid (77) was in her bungalow in the Creggan area of the city when the fire broke out in a bedroom at around midnight yesterday.

Speaking last night from her devastated home in Iniscarn Court, the pensioner described how she had been making herself some tea when she saw the smoke starting to billow from her bedroom.

"I had just closed the closed the blinds and was making myself a cup of tea and toast before bed when the lights started to dim," she said.

"It started to get darker and darker. It was then I started to see the smoke and then the flames started. The smoke got even stronger throughout the house.

"I went to the front door and shouted for somebody to help me. But I went back in as I didn't know where my cat was."

It was then that a neighbour heard Ms McDaid's cries for help and alerted a passer-by to help her. The man entered the semi-detached bungalow and pulled the elderly woman from the property.

"The flames were unbelievable and the smoke as well. He came in and pulled me out or I would not be here today," she said.

Three fire appliances attended the scene and firefighters believe the fire was started accidentally.

Ms McDaid said she believed clothing left drying near an electric fire may have caused the blaze.

She warned others to have a smoke alarm fitted after the device in her own house was not working after being broke earlier this year.

"There's awful damage throughout the house, my bedroom is burnt completely," she said.

"I'm so lucky, I didn't realise it last night how lucky I am to be alive.

"I advise anybody especially at my age.... to have a fire alarm."