AN 89-YEAR-OLD man died and his wife was hospitalised, following a flat fire at their sheltered housing complex in the early hours of yesterday.

Firefighters arrived at Ramsey Court, off York Avenue, in West Kirby, at around 2.40am, to find the couple’s ground floor premises heavily smoke logged.

A 76-year-old woman from the flat above the deceased’s was led to safety by firefighters, before being checked out by paramedics.

She did not require hospital treatment.

But the 89-year-old Ramsey Court resident, named locally as Derek Hill, could not be saved.

Neighbour, Edna Bushell, said: “I got up in the night and looked out of the window and there were quite a few flashing lights everywhere so I knew something was going on.”

Fire crews from West Kirby, Upton and Heswall attended the sheltered housing block and the 79-year-old wife of the deceased, named locally as Jean Hill, was rescued before being taken to Arrowe Park Hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

An investigation into the fire was under way yesterday, with forensic teams on scene.

It is not thought to have been suspicious.

One Ramsey Court resident, who asked not to be named, said: “They were a very nice couple but were both in ill health.

“They lived here before me, I’ve been here five years and he was retired when I came in.

“We’re all shocked at the moment. It’s a sheltered housing development, so we’re all getting on.”

Mr Hill was said to have worked in the carpeting department of Lewis’s prior to his retirement.

Mrs Bushell added: “They were a very nice, elderly couple who loved animals. We’re all stalwarts here so we’ll face up to whatever comes our way, but it is terrible.”

Jackie Lee, senior independent living officer at Contour Homes, said: “Staff have attended the site and will be contacting other residents to offer any support they may need. In the meantime, our sincere condolences go to the family, friends and neighbours of the deceased.”