A HEROIC mum battled through thick black smoke and risked her own life to save her son from a raging bedroom fire.

The mum-of-four, believed to be 26 and named locally as Natalie, lept into action when the alarm was raised by her younger son as she and three of her children slept downstairs at their home in Alcotes, Pitsea, on Wednesday morning, August 14.

The first floor of the privately rented house was engulfed in black smoke and Natalie’s mum, who did not want to be named, said her brave daughter ran upstairs and called out for her ten-year-old son, who had been sleeping in the back bedroom, to wake him up and was shouting for him to grab her hand.

Amazingly, despite not being able to see a thing, the pair managed to touch hands and Natalie pulled her son out and joined the rest of her family, who were safe outside.

Station officer Gary Critch, of Basildon’s red watch, said her actions “undoubtedly saved the child’s life” but he has also reiterated the importance of having smoke alarms in the home.

He said: “She did a fantastic job in getting the child out from upstairs, but that all could have been avoided if they had had smoke alarms fitted in the first place.

“The family woke up beacause of the smell of smoke, it was more by luck than judgement they all got out - it was a really lucky escape.”

Two fire crews from Basildon were called to the serious fire at 9.50am.

The young family and their dog were already out when they arrived and officers wearing breathing apparatus went in to tackle the flames, which were put out by 10.20am.

They also made sure the blaze had not spread to the adjoining houses and used a high pressure fan to clear the terraced property of smoke.

East of England Ambulance Service crews were also on the scene and treated Natalie and her son who were both suffering from the effects of smoke inhaltion. However neither of them were taken to hospital.

The family has been temporarily rendered homeless by the fire, which will be investigated by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police to establish what caused the blaze.