A MAN has died in a house fire.

Shocked residents stood by as emergency crews battled to save the man after his home caught fire and his heart stopped.

The man, believed to be aged 67, was pulled by firefighters him from his home in Belmont Road, Malvern.

Emergency crews – including police, three fire engines and two ambulances – rushed to scene shortly after 9.50pm on Thursday.

Firefighters from Worcester and Malvern rescued the man, who has not been named, and he was passed into the care of paramedics, who immediately began giving CPR and advanced life support. However, he died at the scene.

Fire crews spent around four hours battling the flames, which began on the ground floor of the semi-detached, Fortis-owned house.

Patrick Moloney, who lives next door to the charred building, said he could smell smoke coming through his fireplace at around 9.30pm.

"I saw the flames in his living room – only small flames, I saw the smoke, there was an awful lot of smoke," said the 51-year-old, who immediately called the fire brigade.

"Everyone came out, and out of the pub as well."

Mr Moloney was checked over by the ambulance crew for smoke inhalation, but did not require hospital treatment.

Michael Bray-Coats, of Belmont Road, saw the commotion at around 10pm but went "light-headed" and "keeled over", hitting his head in the fall.

He was also treated by paramedics at the scene, but was not taken to hospital.

"It is tragic, poor bloke," said the 40-year-old. "I saw smoke billowing out of the window. I was shocked, I couldn't believe that something like that would happen.

"I'm alright, still shocked by it all."

According to neighbours, the man had lived alone in the street for many years after moving from Wales.

Phil Clifton, licensee of the Retired Soldier in Newtown Road, said the man was a regular at his pub and had been in for a drink on Thursday afternoon.

"He was a cheerful bloke," said Mr Clifton. "He will be sadly missed."

On Friday, a West Mercia Police spokesman said the cause of the fire was "not believed to be suspicious".

Officers were working with fire investigators to establish how the blaze started.

A police spokesman said: "Officers attended to assist with crowd control and traffic management and West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) also attended.

"West Mercia Police is working with the fire service to establish the cause of the fire, but it is not believed to be suspicious at this time.

"At this point next of kin have not been informed and the formal identification process has not yet taken place."

A spokesman for WMAS said: "A man was rescued from the house by the fire service and found to be in cardiac arrest.

"CPR began immediately and ambulance staff also administered advanced life support.

"However, despite everyone’s best efforts, it unfortunately became apparent that nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene."

WMAS sent two ambulances, a paramedic area support officer and a MERIT trauma doctor to the scene.

Two fire engines were sent from Worcester, along with one from Malvern. West Mercia Police also attended the scene.