The funeral of Ramsey fire hero Dave Mcgrath took place in a packed Bride church on Saturday.

Mr Mcgrath, aged 66, was one of the rescuers at the Summerland fire in 1973 only a short time after receiving an award for saving the life of an elderly woman in another fire at Lonan.

Mr Mcgrath, who lived in Bride, had been for a night out in Douglas and was on his way home with Peter Lewis, now a Douglas taxi driver, when they spotted the house fire.

Without hesitating for his own safety Mr Mcgrath dashed into the inferno.

With his hair on fire and a new leather jacket burning on his back he got the woman out.

Mr Lewis had called the emergency services.

After she was taken to hospital both firefighters were given a lift home by an off duty police officer.

Some weeks later both Mr Mcgrath and Mr Lewis were both awarded a life saving certificate from The Society for the Protection of Life from Fire at the High Court in Douglas.

Mr Mcgrath died suddenly at home on September 15. He leaves wife Bernie, six children, and grandchildren.