The bravest fire fighter in Britain as voted by readers of the Sun

Stewarts Law would like to congratulate its client, Mr Ian Tape, who has been voted Britain's bravest fire fighter in a poll held by readers of the Sun.

Mr Tape was honoured at the Fire Fighters' Charity's annual Spirit of Fire awards after a reception at 10 Downing Street.

Ian and his colleague had already dragged one woman unconscious from a raging house blaze which had 30 fire fighters from six appliances trying to control it in February last year. Neighbours, however, were convinced others were caught inside the house and so, in spite of the danger, Ian, 33, and his colleague went back into the property when a sudden explosion trapped then in the kitchen, slamming shut the only door onto their fire hose. The water was cut off and the door was jammed. Ian suffered horrific burns over more than a third of his body and spent more than two months receiving skin graft operations in hospital, before he was allowed his first tentative home visits.

Both men are still undergoing rehabilitation with help from the Fire Fighters Charity. Ian is bringing a claim against the Fire Service for operational failures that lead to him receiving injuries during this fire.