Boy, 6, killed in house blaze as mother screams 'help me, help me'

Staff reporter,Derbyshire(wp/es):

A six-year-old boy has died in a house fire in Derbyshire, police have said.

The child was killed after a blaze ripped through a house in Ilkeston on Friday night.

His mother was reportedly heard screaming for help and neighbours apparently tried to force their way into the house to rescue the child.

One neighbour told Derbyshire Live: "I heard this commotion on the street, it was the mum screaming 'help me, help me'."

"Me and another neighbour tried to get in but we just couldn't."

Another neighbour named Jack Hill described how he tried to get to the bedroom to rescue the boy.

"I ran to the Chinese takeaway and grabbed their fire extinguisher and went into the house.

“I tried to get into the upstairs room but the smoke was too thick.

“Then I saw the young boy that lives there being brought our by the fire brigade."

The emergency services were called to an address in Shaw Street West at 10.40pm.

Firefighters pulled the boy from the house and he was taken to hospital where he later died. 

Derbyshire Constabulary said in a statement on Saturday: "We were called by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue to reports of a fire at a house in Shaw Street West, Ilkeston, at 10:40pm last night (26 October)

"Firefighters entered the property and found a six-year-old boy with serious injuries.

"The boy was taken to Queen's Medical Centre by ambulance, however, he was pronounced dead a short time later.

"Enquiries as to the cause of the fire are ongoing and a joint police and fire investigation will take place today."

Anybody with any information about the incident is encouraged to contact Derbyshire Constabulary, with reference 18*516997.