IT’S a case of “Luckie” by name and “Luckie” by nature for one Christchurch couple after they escaped with just minor injuries from a fire at their home.

Pensioners Edward and Margaret Luckie from Highcliffe managed to avoid serious injury and major damage to their home after some unattended cooking went up in flames on Thursday.

Mr Luckie, 88, was in the garden on Thursday morning when he heard a scream from his wife, Margaret, 90, inside the house.

He said: “My wife had put a pan with some oil in on the hob and had just gone to put her hearing aid in.

“When she came back in there were flames coming from the pan.

“She tried to put them out with cloths but it didn’t work. When I came in I tried to do the same but plastic was dripping onto my hands.

“She said put some water on it and without thinking we did and it just made it worse.”

Two workmen across the road saw the smoke billowing from the windows and came across to help the pair out of the house, before the fire crew from Christchurch arrived just moments later.

The elderly couple were treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. There was smoke damage to the property and damage to the cooker.

Mr Luckie, whose father was in the London Fire Brigade during the Blitz, said: “Of course we know not to put water on oil fires but at the time you don’t think about that.

“You just want to put it out.

“We really are very lucky and we want to thank all the firefighters and everyone at Royal Bournemouth Hospital who have looked after us.

“If our experience can help anyone then something good has come out of this. We’re okay and the damage can be repaired.”

Watch manager Daniel Perrett from Christchurch fire station said: “We would remind people not to leave cooking unattended in the first instance.

“Secondly do not use water to try and extinguish a fire involving oil. Call 999, get out and close the doors.”