A HERO postman rushed into a burning house twice to save a childhood friend after an explosion.
Vincent Earl, 46, battled through the flames and black smoke to reach Kevin Murphy, 40, after the explosion and fire on Lydgate Road, Droylsden.
He was chatting to a neighbour four doors away when he heard a loud bang followed by shouting.
Spotting Mr Murphy through the window lying on the living room floor, he ran into the blaze and pulled him out.
But as Mr Earl, who lives on nearby Manor Road, phoned the emergency services, Mr Murphy got up and ran back into the house to try to save his dog.
Mr Earl followed him back in, as the flames shot up the walls and stairwell, and dragged him out again.
Father-of-four Mr Earl, who has been a postman for 22 years, said: "He was in a terrible state.
"As I ran in the first time he had got up and was coming out of the living room, which looked like a bomb had hit it with glass and dust strewn everywhere and black smoke.
"Kevin was burned from head to foot, cindered and black, with his all his hair and eyebrows missing. I just hope he recovers. We knew each other when we were children from the neighbourhood and met again when I started doing this round 12 months ago.
"He was delirious, not at all with it, and went back in to try to save his dog, a young boxer.
"But I knew it was going to die anyway because it took the full force of the blast.
"Kevin managed to reach the living room again. The fire was spreading so quickly up the walls and stairs. I dragged him out again and the emergency service arrived."
Around 20 firefighters tackled the substantial fire, which has gutted the semi-detached house and destroyed its roof.
Early investigations suggest a stand-alone gas heater or stove in the one of the downstairs rooms exploded, causing a fire which spread quickly to other rooms.
The pet dog died despite efforts from paramedics, who gave it oxygen at the scene.
Mr Murphy, a builder, was rushed to Tameside Hospital with serious burns and the suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.
Neighbour Andrea McNeill, 38, said: "I was chatting with the postman at his gate when we both heard a loud bang.
"There was black smoke billowing from the downstairs window and flames shooting out. It was very scary how quickly it spread."
Firefighters from Phillips Park and Ashton rushed to the scene. Three engines and a hydraulic platform were used.
