A mixture of sorrow and relief hung in the air as neighbours recovered from a terrifying morning that saw a man die in a flat fire.

Emergency services rushed to Thorpe St Andrew on Sunday, arriving at a flat block in Tracey Road at 7.57am.

Neighbours living in the building have recalled the moment fire engulfed the flat, with fire crews from Sprowston, Carrow and Earlham attending to extinguish the blaze.

Eastern Daily Press: Ash still resides near the door where the fire took placeAsh still resides near the door where the fire took place (Image: Newsquest)

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Craig John Hipperson, who lives underneath where the fire took place, was the first to call 999.

The 58-year-old said: "I was lying there when I heard the fire alarm in the flat go off and wondered what was going on.

Eastern Daily Press: Craig John Hipperson, 58, was the first to call the emergency services and save his neighbours from further disasterCraig John Hipperson, 58, was the first to call the emergency services and save his neighbours from further disaster (Image: Newsquest)

"I couldn't smell the smoke but you could see it coming out from the back of the building.

"It all happened so quickly and knew I needed to do something, so I called the fire department and they arrived in about eight minutes or so.

"One of the firemen said to me that if it had been left for 10 minutes or more the whole place would have been ablaze.

Eastern Daily Press: A number of firefighters attended the scene on Sunday morning to extinguish the fireA number of firefighters attended the scene on Sunday morning to extinguish the fire (Image: Craig John Hipperson)

"I'm just thankful because the fire could've spread through the other flats."

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the coroner is due to begin inquest proceedings in due course. 

A Norfolk Police spokeswoman said: "The death is not being treated as suspicious and our enquiries are currently ongoing."

Eastern Daily Press: Jan Giggens, 55, lives on the ground floor of the flat where the fire took place and was told to stay indoors by a firefighterJan Giggens, 55, lives on the ground floor of the flat where the fire took place and was told to stay indoors by a firefighter (Image: Newsquest)

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Another neighbour, Jan Giggens, who also lives on the ground floor of the flat, added: "I heard some commotion outside and went to see what was happening.

"A firefighter told me to stay indoors and people living upstairs were evacuated - there were people being told to stay back.

"A while later we were informed the man in the flat had died.

"It's a very sad situation and a tragic waste of life."

Eastern Daily Press: The fire took place in Tracey Road, Thorpe St Andrew, at 7.57am on June 11The fire took place in Tracey Road, Thorpe St Andrew, at 7.57am on June 11 (Image: Newsquest)