JOHN Chislett was saved by a whisker when his pet cat rescued him from a house fire.

The 59-year-old man was cooking chips at his home in Pasture Lane, Longbarn, but forgot about the pan and fell asleep.

But luckily Coffee, his two-year-old tabby cat, knew exactly what to do.

"He jumped on my chest and started pawing my face and nudging me with his head to wake me up," said John.

"The room was black and he was coughing and spluttering. I just slung him out of the door and then went to try to put out the flames."

John followed the experts' advice and tried to smother the flames with a damp towel, but he was overcome by smoke. He called the fire brigade and alerted neighbours, before being taken to hospital for treatment for the effects of smoke inhalation.

John underwent a quadruple heart by-pass in January, but says he was making a good recovery.

He added: "Two heart attacks and a bypass couldn't finish me off, but a house fire nearly did.

"If it hadn't been for Coffee I don't think I would be here now."

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