A YOUNG father has spoken of the horror of trying to save a man who burned to death in a public toilet.

Kieran Lyle, 26, tried to smash down a locked cubicle door to rescue the unnamed 49-year-old on Monday afternoon in Faringdon.

He said he and two friends were walking past the toilets in Southampton Street at 1.40pm when they spotted smoke coming from under the door.

Mr Lyle said: “I’ve gone in and the smoke was a foot off the floor, thick black smoke.

“I just thought ‘I’ve got to do something’.”

The friends tried kicking down the door but to no avail, so Mr Lyle jumped onto the toilet in a neighbouring cubicle.

He looked down to see the man, lying on the floor, wearing a Puffa jacket which was on fire.

One of the friends called 999 and the police and fire services arrived within minutes.

Mr Lyle added: “I said to the police officer I just wanted to get in and get him out – but if I had done that I wouldn’t be alive now.”

In all the confusion, Mr Lyle said he did not realise the man was dead until police interviewed him afterwards.

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The life-long Faringdon resident, currently unemployed, said: “When they said ‘the deceased’ I froze, then I was shaking.

“I wish I could have done more. I struggled to sleep last night thinking about it.”

Mr Lyle left the scene an hour after he arrived, but said when he returned at 7.30pm police forensic teams were still surrounding the toilet and the body had not yet been removed.

He added: “I think everyone is shocked. Nothing like this has ever happened in Faringdon.”

Thames Valley Police said the man was pronounced dead at the scene and his next-of-kin have been informed.

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out yesterday and the death is still unexplained.

Senior investigating officer Det Chief Insp Kevin Brown appealed for anyone who saw a white man wearing a light green and grey jacket and dark trousers in the vicinity of Southampton Street to contact him. He also asked for “members of public who tried to help the man out of the toilet block” to contact him.

Faringdon town councillor Alex Meredith said: “This is clearly a tragic incident. The town has been deeply shocked and we hope the fire and police authorities can instigate a speedy investigation.

“All our thoughts are with the victim's family.”

Anyone with information should call 101.

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