Brave teacher rushes into burning house to save neighbours despite building being struck by lightning
A Welsh primary school teacher rushed into a burning house to save his neighbours despite the building being struck by lightning.
Stuart Dunn, 36, was lying awake in his Glanaman home in Carmarthenshire when he noticed what he initially mistook for a flickering street light.
The thunderstorm on May 27 caused a fire to break out inside the house.
He said: "But I noticed it disappeared and then came back again, so I opened the window, which is when I saw the flames on the roof."
The blaze had been sparked by a lightning strike on the neighbouring semi-detached property.
Mr Dunn immediately dashed out into the street, dressed only in a T-shirt, underwear and sliders, to raise the alarm.
The first resident he reached was a woman sleeping in a downstairs room alongside her dog, completely unaware that her roof was ablaze above her.
Mr Dunn said: "I think she was in shock. She came out of the house and I phoned 999."
As the emergency call was made, other residents on the street began to emerge from their homes to witness the unfolding drama.
However, one neighbour in the adjacent property remained oblivious to the danger outside.
This woman had taken precautions against the stormy night by wearing an eye mask and earplugs to bed, meaning she had neither seen the flames nor heard the growing commotion in the street.
Mr Dunn repeatedly shone his mobile phone torch through her window until she finally stirred.
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He told the Times: "She was sleeping with an eye mask on and earplugs, so had not heard what had happened either."
The teacher evacuated everyone before the fire could spread further and cause potential harm to those inside.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service dispatched crews to the two-storey property at approximately 11.20pm.
Dyfed-Powys Police, ambulance services and National Grid were also attending the scene.
The blaze caused substantial damage to the home and spread to a neighbouring property.
A spokesman confirmed that all residents were safely accounted for with no injuries reported.
Mr Dunn added: "You'd hope any normal person would go over to let them know and help out. I don't think what I did was heroic, you just do it."
The grateful neighbour later posted a thank-you card through his letterbox, which he described as a "nice gesture".
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