AN ELDERLY couple have died following a house fire in Croydon – with their pet dog the only survivor, it's reported.
Firefighters, police and paramedics were called to a detached home in a little cul de sac in Addiscombe just after 8pm last night.
Officials bravely rushed into the inferno to rescue a man and woman still inside.
But despite the efforts of medics, both casualties – who are believed to be in their 70s – were pronounced dead at the scene.
Horrified neighbours reportedly saw fire crews carrying the victims from the house.
Police have launched a probe into the cause of the blaze.
One man who lives nearby, but asked not to be named, said: “They are a kind old couple – at least in their late 70s.
“The woman could barely walk. I know the son visits sometimes, but I don’t think he was in.
TRAGEDY AS TWO DIE
“I heard the fire engines, but I didn’t think anything like this could happen.
“It’s very sad. It’s tragic. I just don’t want to think about it."
Another man said he had heard the couple’s dog barking this morning – and smelled something "almost like an electrical fire" as the blaze took hold.
A woman, who gave her name as Emma, said: "They were at least in their 70s. It's very sad. They always had fairy lights on.
“I didn't know them. They seemed like a sweet couple who always liked pottering around in their garden with their dogs.
"It looks like they lived there for a long time."
PCs are standing guard outside the property today.
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The pretty white home, which has hanging baskets outside, appears untouched from the outside.
A toy snowman still sits in a window.
Emergency crews have opened all the upstairs windows to allow smoke to clear from inside.
This morning, a spokesperson from the London Fire Brigade said: "Two people have sadly died in a house fire in Windermere Road.
"Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to the fire at a detached house.
"The ground floor of the building was damaged by the fire.
NEIGHBOURS' HORROR
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus found one man and one woman inside the property.
"They were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
"The Brigade was called at 8.08pm and the fire was under control by 8.59pm.
"Fire crews from Woodside, Croydon and Beckenham fire stations attended.
"The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service."
A spokesman from Met said: "The cause of the fire is still being investigated."
The tragedy comes less than three weeks after four twin boys were killed in a house fire in nearby Sutton.
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Kyson and Bryson, four, and Leyton and Logan, three, died after a PVC-covered front door draped in fairy lights caught fire, it's understood.
The little ones were given CPR on the street outside by firefighters, but none could be saved.
A 27-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.
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