Steve Spillman, 46, told the Mail- Times yesterday that a beam of torch light reflecting off the buckle had allowed neighbours Ian Antonoff and Bill Jorgensen to find him in dense smoke.

The rescuers dragged Mr Spillman from the Mathoura Street home minutes before the roof caved in.

The house caught fire about 11.50pm after Mr Spillman fell asleep on the couch after putting oil on the stove to cook a chicken kiev.

Mr Spillman, who has owned the home for 18 months, found it hard to find the words to thank the men who saved his life.

"I want to thank them, but it's so very hard to thank someone enough for saving your life," he said.

"Other people do something for you and you can buy chocolates or flowers or whatever the scenario may be - but that's just for people who do little things. This isn't a little thing, this is your life.

"It's not like I'm going to get my chance to save his life next week."

Mr Spillman said he had been to see Mr Antonoff `two or three times' to thank him for saving his life.

"I went to see him at his work first thing next day. Every time I see him I just thank him," he said.

"I didn't realise that Bill was even in the house until yesterday.

"I didn't realise that, because the focus was on Ian and he was in the ambulance beside me.

"I was in shock and didn't know what the hell was happening.

"Now I have to go and see Bill and thank him because he is a major part of it as well."

Mr Spillman said he could remember little about the fire.

"All I can remember about it was yelling out help me, help me," he said.

"I didn't know where I was. There was no power, it was dark, smoky and you just become disoriented. You couldn't see flames or anything, it was just jet black.

"Ian said the only way they found me was the torch hit my belt buckle. Just a standard belt buckle.

"How lucky am I to be even sitting here? You don't realise at the time. You go back next day and you just can't believe you can get out of that."

Mr Spillman said that after being treated for smoke inhalation he was amazingly up and walking about shortly after being rescued.

"You walk around and you are just stunned, shellshocked," he said.

Mr Spillman said the help of caring neighbour Karen Cook and her son Jarrod had been valuable.

"She took control of me. Made phone calls to family. The police tried to organise the Salvos and she said: `No, he's coming home with me'."

Mr Spillman said he had no family in Horsham and Ms Cook had been fantastic in getting in touch with them.

"She rang family who live in Hamilton. There should be something for people who live on their own. They should look at having emergency contact lists outside houses or with someone else nowadays."

Continued - page 2

Neighbours relive rescue - page 2