Jason Donovan has said he is ‘no hero’ after he rushed out of his home in his underpants armed with a fire extinguisher to help put out a blaze at his neighbour’s £21million mansion in Notting Hill.
Grateful residents told how the actor and singer, who rose to fame in Aussie soap Neighbours, ran to the rescue ‘like a superhero’ in only his underwear wielding two fire extinguishers.
Jason, 51, hosed down the blaze threatening to engulf a neighbour’s home in Notting Hill before firefighters arrived at the scene. The owners of the £21.5 million west London mansion said Jason’s heroic act was ‘the perfect example of when good neighbours become good friends.’
But modest Jason himself played down his act of heroism, sating the only heroes are the emergency services.
The singer is pictured in his underwear racing to help his neighbours during the blaze
He gave a thumbs up as he left his own multi-million pound west London home this afternoon.
But he played down his act of bravery when he raced to the rescue armed with two fire extinguishers. Jason said: ‘There are no heroes apart from the emergency services and the fact that everybody was safe.’
The fire broke out opposite Jason’s home in an impressive £21.5m gated mansion. The property appears to have been extended and had a shiny black Mercedes 4×4 on the drive.
The owners, in their mid forties, who live opposite Jason’s £5.5m home, were woken by neighbours banging on the door and ringing the doorbell when the fire broke out at the side of their home on September 22.
They were standing outside their house with their two children aged ten and 12 when Jason came running across the road bare foot, armed with two fire extinguishers and single handedly hosed down the blaze.
The family, who did not want to be named, said Jason spotted the fire from the window of his five storey house just after 4am and hailed him as the ‘best neighbour in the history of the world.’
The fire service confirmed there had been a blaze at the star’s home in Notting Hill, West London
The man said: ‘This is the perfect example of when good neighbours become good friends. It was awesome. It’s brilliant, fantastic. He is the best neighbour in the history of the world.
‘He literally saw the fire from that window at 4.30 in the morning and ran out that door. He came across the road and literally put the fire out bare foot.’
The man was seen leaving his home in a suit with his partner this morning, who wore sunglasses and a maxi dress.
She said: ‘We had a fire and we were woken up by our neighbours banging on the door and ringing the doorbell.
‘I was standing outside with my kids and Jason Donavon came running like a superhero. He came bare foot just running across the street. ‘Then he came and he hosed down the fire.
‘He called the fire department for us. He gave me a hug and made sure I was okay and left. I think he is heroic.’
Her partner added: ‘Jason Donavon ran across the road in his shorts looking fit with two fire extinguishers. He put the fire out before the fire department arrived.
‘The neighbours has just woken us but he called the fire department. It wasn’t in the house, it was adjacent to the house.’
The fire service confirmed there had been a blaze at the star’s home in Notting Hill, West London, tweeting: ‘Everyone needs good neighbours – Jason Donovan surprises firefighters at ‘NottingHill fire.’
He thanked the emergency services for getting there so quickly after he’d raced to help his neighbour.
The singer thanked the emergency services for getting there so quickly after he’d raced to help his neighbour.
He tweeted: ‘Thank you to the @LondonFire for getting to the situation so quickly, glad no one was hurt. This is a good reason to always wear PJs to bed (in case of emergencies) but much more importantly to have fire extinguishers at hand in the home.’
London Fire Brigade said it was called just after 4am on September 22. Watch Manager Thomas Wolfe said: ‘The fire was located in the side passage next to a house and when we arrived a gentleman was tackling the fire using a fire extinguisher. We took over from him and quickly dealt with the blaze.
Donovan (pictured on Neighbours with co-star Kylie Minogue in 1988) raced into the street in his underwear
‘It soon transpired that it was Jason Donovan who noticed the fire from his property over the road.
‘The fire is believed to have been caused by a fault in electrical cabling.’
It’s not the first time this year that Donovan has offered a helping hand in an emergency.
In May, he saw that a woman had collapsed in the street near his home and his first thought was to help.
The Australian star had been out for a jog when he spotted the woman unconscious on the pavement in Notting Hill.
Instead of carrying on with his run, the Australian actor went to her aid and was seen taking directions from a 999 operator on his phone.
He stayed with her after paramedics arrived, holding her hand while she was assessed.
When she came round, the woman recognised her helper. The former soap star grinned as she shook his hand before she was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Jason Donovan, 50, proves he is a Good Samaritan after comforting a woman that has collapsed in the street near his London home
Donovan, who was seen taking directions from a 999 operator on his phone before paramedics arrived, holds the woman’s hand