A 71-YEAR-OLD dialysis patient was rescued from his home by a neighbour after a fire in his kitchen.

Raymond Lawrence, of Brook Road, Northfleet, had just come back from treatment at Darent Valley Hospital when the fire started.

The trouble began when retired engineer Mr Lawrence decided to make a drink on his gas stove.

He said: "Normally I might have half an hour's rest but I felt like a cup of tea, so I thought I'd put the kettle on.

"The gas lighter didn't work very quickly and when it did, it went whoosh'. There was a balloon of flames.

"I didn't panic and tried to put the fire out but I couldn't."

He added: "When the smoke got a bit much I didn't know where I was.

"I thought It's time to get out of here'."

However, Mr Lawrence was overcome by smoke, became disorientated and could not find his way out.

His neighbour, Derek Elllis, saw the smoke and ran to help.

The 60-year-old tried to go through the front door but was beaten back by the smoke.

He then went through a neighbour's home, over the fence and broke into the house via the back door, cutting his arm in the process.

He found Mr Lawrence on the floor struggling to breathe and pulled him out of the front door.

The father-of-two said: "I just did what anyone else in the same situation would have done.

"The neighbours all get on around here and I hope someone would do the same for me."

Mr Lawrence said: "I felt a little shook up but I feel better now.

"I am very grateful to Derek for pulling me out."

Mr Lawrence was discharged from the hospital in Darenth Wood Road the following day.

Firefighters were called to the incident at 6.36pm on September 4.