Published: Janaury 27, 2012
by PAVAN AMARA

A WOMAN described by her neighbours as an animal lover and “as slender and graceful as Audrey Hepburn” died in a fire at her Islington flat on Tuesday.

A second woman trapped in her flat – who was disabled – was rescued by firefighters after a neighbour helped save her life by telling her to put blankets over the gap beneath her door.

The dead woman is due to be identified today (Friday) at St Pancras Coroner’s Court. Police say her next of kin have yet to be traced and informed.

Two fire engines and 10 firefighters from Islington fire station tackled the blaze at a block of flats in Highbury Station Road but were unable to save the woman, who was in her 40s. 

Neighbour Michael Cassidy called the fire brigade at 1pm after spotting smoke escaping from the ground-floor flat at the three storey building.

“I was having a cup of tea with my son when I smelt smoke,” said the 57-year-old taxi driver.

“I thought it was strange in this area, especially because everything is electrical. I checked all the houses, and then saw six inches of smoke swirling around the porch of the block of flats. I saw smoke escaping from the triple vents and I knew it was serious.”

Mr Cassidy called emergency services from his mobile phone, and buzzed the flat’s intercom to ensure ground-floor residents were okay.

One had already died, however. The second, a disabled woman, was rescued. “The lady who has now passed away did not answer, but the elderly woman answered,” Mr Cassidy said. “She was very scared because she couldn’t really move on her own. I told her to put blankets against the door so smoke didn’t get in and kept her calm. Then the fire brigade came and I let them take care of it.”

A fire brigade spokeswoman said the ground-floor flat had been badly damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Neighbours say that most residents in the block of six flats were at work.

The deceased woman had physical disabilities, lived with pets and was unemployed, a neighbour said.

Emin Kemal, 57, who lives in the flat above the woman, said: “I spoke to her sometimes when I saw her out, but mostly we all keep ourselves to ourselves. She reminded me of Audrey Hepburn – it was her slender frame, her shiny dark hair, her grace.

“Around Christmas her cat had died. She had two of them and she was heartbroken. She loved animals. She’d rescued both cats from the streets because they were strays. She came across like she had a heart, she was one of those sorts.”

The death is not being treated as suspicious.