A TODDLER was dramatically saved from a blazing second-floor flat by his stepfather.

Tristan Woodward, 19, dropped three-year-old Piers Swan from a window into the arms of a neighbour on the first floor.

Witness Keith Ellis, 36, who lives nearby, said: "Tristan was hanging right out, almost by his ankles, and more or less dropped Piers. It was a very dramatic rescue.

"They threw a mattress down first in case they dropped him. It was quick thinking by everyone."

Fire broke out around 4.30am today as Tristan, his girlfriend Debbie Swan and Piers slept at their home in Westway, Wick, Littlehampton.

Tristan woke and ran into the hall to find smoke billowing from the lounge door. Debbie, 24, shouted to alert their downstairs neighbours while Tristan grabbed Piers to drop him to safety.

Minutes later firefighters arrived and rescued the couple by ladder.

Tristan said: "I thought we might have to jump for it.

"Debbie was screaming and I was trying to calm her down.

"It was very frightening. You don't ever think something like this is going to happen to you."

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated.

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