Tributes for the victim of Glasgow flat blaze

Neighbours have paid tribute to a 53-year-old man who died in a fire in his flat.

James McGovern was rescued from his first floor flat by fire fighters after neighbours raised the alarm at 9:10pm on Friday.

But despite the efforts of paramedics Mr McGovern, who neighbours said lived alone and worked as a joiner, was declared dead at Glasgow Royal Infirmary a short time later.

Another woman, who lived on the top floor of the building, was taken to the same hospital where she was still being treated for the effects of smoke inhalation over the weekend.

Police were yesterday investigating the cause of the blaze which happened in tenement flat in Aberfoyle Street, Glasgow.

Neighbour Gary Johnson, 49, called 999 after smelling smoke from his living room while watching television that night.

He said Mr McGovern, known as “Chic” to his friends, had lived in the flat for around a year.

He said: “I looked through my peephole in the door and it was all black. The smoke was so thick I couldn’t get out. I was trapped. I called 999 and fire fighters arrived within two minutes.”

He added: “I saw Chic ever so often, he had a grown up daughter who used to come visit him. He seemed like a nice guy.”