Neighbours have spoken of their shock after a 39-year-old man died following a house fire in Stockport.
Emergency services were called to reports of the blaze on Garners Lane, Adswood, at around 5am on Friday (May 19). The man was rescued from the building but has since sadly passed away, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.
The force said the fire is being treated as 'non-suspicious', and that officers are supporting the man's family.
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One neighbour said he was letting his dog out when he saw a number of fire engines outside the house.
“I just saw a lot of fire engines and police, all standing on the corner with the lights on. I didn’t know what was going on,” he said.
“I knew him, he was a really nice guy, I used to see him out walking his dog. I was only speaking to him last week.
“It’s a bad road, there’s always something happening. It’s a real shock.”
Another neighbour said: “My dog woke me up at around 6.30am, barking. I looked outside and I saw smoke billowing out the back of the house.
“It was all of a sudden and I didn’t hear anything before. There were lots of police and fire engines there.
“It’s a real shame.”
In a statement released earlier today, a GMP spokesperson said: "Greater Manchester Police responded to an incident at Garners Lane, Stockport on Friday 19 May 2023 at around 5am.
"Emergency services were in attendance into a reported fire to make the property safe. A man was found in a life-threatening condition and has since sadly passed away despite the best attempts of emergency service personnel.
"His family are being supported by specially-trained officers at this time. Enquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances but it is believed to be non-suspicious.”
In a statement released before it was confirmed that the man had died, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "Just before 5am on Friday, 19th May, firefighters were called to reports of a fire at a residential property on Garners Lane in Stockport.
"Three fire engines from Cheadle, Stockport and Offerton fire stations quickly attended the scene. Crews used six breathing apparatus, two hose reels, one short extension ladder and other specialist equipment to extinguish the fire.
"Firefighters and colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service rescued one person from the building. Crews were at the scene for around five hours."
Anyone with information that may help the police with their investigation is asked to call Stockport CID on 101 or 0161 856 9790 quoting incident 416 of 19/05/2023. Alternatively details can be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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