A FRIGHTENED grandmother was just minutes from death before being dramatically rescued as flames threatened to engulf her flat.

Catherine Young, also known as Catherine Wilson, suffered serious burns to her face as thick, toxic smoke filled her top-floor home in Irving Road, Southampton.

Fire crews used a battering ram to make their way in before finding the 48-year-old slumped on the bathroom floor.

Their commanding officer said she would not have survived much longer in the burning flat.

Neighbours heard her crying out in pain before she was taken to a waiting ambulance and rushed to Southampton General Hospital under police escort.

Teams from Redbridge, Totton and St Mary’s used breathing apparatus as they searched the duplex apartment.

Last night she had been transferred to a specialist hospital unit at Salisbury having suffered 40 per cent burns to her face and hands.

Specialist fire investigators were called to the scene to examine the cause of the blaze, which started at around 9am yesterday.

Next-door neighbour, Linda Pike, said members of the public ran to the nearby Redbridge fire station to raise the alarm.

“It was just a sheet of black smoke,” she said.

“I opened my window and shouted ‘fire, fire, fire!’ “The firefighters were shouting through the door asking whether there was anyone in there.

“Then they came out carrying her. Her face was black from the smoke. They covered her in a sheet and put a white mask on her face.”

Incident commander Mickey Smithers said the fire started and was contained to an upstairs bedroom of the flat, at Blandford House.

He added: “In my opinion the lady would not have survived much longer if she had not been rescued at that point.

“Very early on we were informed someone was in there, so there was a great sense of urgency among the firefighters.

“Every time we send our fire crews in to a burning building, it’s dangerous – but it is a situation they are prepared for.”

Three years ago Mrs Young suffered a two-inch cut and swelling to her face during an unprovoked attack in woodland off Springford Road in Southampton.

Then, last year she appeared at Southampton Crown Court after admitting two counts of making a threat to kill and one of possessing a kitchen knife as a bladed article.

Initially her sentencing was deferred for a psychiatric analysis but she was later handed a two-year community order and mental health requirement.