On this day in Yorkshire 1955

A 28-year-old Bradford man broke into a fish and chip shop in Leeds Road, Bradford on Saturday afternoon and rescued the owner who had collapsed over blazing fish pan.

The fire was in the shop owned by Mr. John Salt, aged 72. When Mr. Fred Jessop, manager of a grocery store opposite, saw flames licking at the windows he ran across the road, kicked the door open and burst inside.

“The place was filled with dense smoke, and flames were leaping ceiling high from burning fat in the fish pan,” he told The Yorkshire Post.

“Mr. Salt had collapsed over the edge of the pan. He had a foam extinguisher in his hand. I lifted him clear.”

The proprietor of a near-by greengrocery store, Mr. Alfred Henderson, kept the flames in check with an extinguisher from his van as Mr. Jessop dragged Mr. Salt out on to the pavement.

Mr. Salt was detained in St. Luke’s Hospital with burns to his face and left hand, and shock.

He was stated to be “rather poorly” last night.

Mr. Jessop, who lives in Gladstone Street, Bradford received hand burns but he was allowed to go home after treatment.

Interior fittings in the shop were severely damaged by the outbreak which was extinguished by Bradford Fire Brigade.

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