This is the first picture of a hero dad who jumped from a blazing building with a baby tucked into his boxer shorts.
Gary Anderson leapt from the first-floor window with tiny Cyrus in the only secure place for him, so he could keep his hands free to break his fall.
Quick thinking Gary then made sure five-month-old Cyrus was safe before then helping his partner Amber jump down from the same window.
The drama happened at the couple’s flat in Heywood, near Rochdale, just before 3pm on Thursday.
Witnesses told the Manchester Evening News they had seen a man jump from the building with the baby tucked into his boxer shorts.
Firefighters raced to the scene and all three of the family were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but none were seriously injured.
Neighbours told how Gary was wandering the street in just his boxer shorts.
One said: ‘Everyone quickly rallied round to help.
Gary Anderson leapt from the first-floor window with his baby, Cyrus, tucked into his boxer shorts as a fire blazed through his home
Mr Anderson put his five-month-old son in his boxer shorts so that so he could keep his hands free to break his fall
A blazing fire destroyed his family’s home in Rochdale on Thursday, March 13
‘Gary was given a t-shirt and dressing gown before they went into a nearby home.
‘It was brave of him to jump from the first-floor window, but he didn’t really have any alternative.
‘We are just all glad that no one was hurt.’
On Friday the entire block of flats remained empty and cordoned off while the fire service, crime scene officers and housing association teams investigate the cause of the blaze.
Evacuated residents have been offered hotel rooms if they are unable to stay with family or friends.
Locals described running out of a nearby shop when he saw smoke before banging on doors to help awaken occupants.
Liam Hughes, 35, said: ‘I was in the shops and saw the smoke and ran up there, banging on the windows to get everyone out.
Firefighters raced to the scene and all three of the family were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but none were seriously injured
It is believed this is the window where heroic Mr Anderson jumped from the blazing fire to save his and his young son’s life
Lochawe Close remained empty and cordoned off while the fire service, crime scene officers and housing association teams investigate the cause of the blaze
Neighbours told how Gary was wandering the street in just his boxer shorts before they quickly gave him a T-shirt and dressing gown
Police, fire engines and paramedics swarmed the street amid initial reports of serious incident
‘Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used jets to extinguish the fire and are dampening down any remaining hotspots,’ the police said yesterday
Evacuated residents have been offered hotel rooms if they are unable to stay with family or friends after the fire broke out yesterday afternoon
‘If I had not gone there, it could have been a lot worse. None of them had any clothes on.’
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘At just before 2.55pm on Thursday March 13 GMFRS were called to a fire involving four maisonette flats on Lochawe Close, Heywood.
‘A number of fire engines and special appliances were quickly mobilised to the scene with surrounding properties evacuated.
‘Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used jets to extinguish the fire and are dampening down any remaining hotspots.’
