Teenage Fire Hero

Although his parents and brothers escaped uninjured, Lee sustained 22 per cent burns and was rushed to the specialist burns unit at the Oddstock Hospital in Salisbury for treatment.

There, this week, he has been in the intensive care unit with his mother, Jill, keeping a vigil at his bedside.

Staff at the hospital said his condition was critical but stable.

The fire started in Lee's bedroom in the attic of the family home in Stanley Road at around 4am on Sunday.

Brave Lee battled against the flames to get downstairs where he managed to evacuate his parents and two brothers.

Fire crews from Littlehampton arrived to tackle the blaze and fire station commander Trevor Worsfold praised Lee for his swift action.

He said the cause of the fire was still being looked into but early indications suggest an electrical fault.

He added: "Had the family installed a smoke detector, they would have given themselves more time to evacuate the building safely."

The attic and roof of the house were completely fire damaged with the remainder of the house damaged by fire, heat and smoke.

It will be at least six months before the family will be able to live in the house again as extensive building work is carried out on the house.

Lee's stepfather Ashley Beddows, said: "He's been a brave lad. We feel really proud of him."