Neighbours made a desperate attempt to save a disabled man who died after being trapped in his burning home, it has emerged. 

Giedrius Baliukeuiciene, 37, of Gravel Close in Chigwell, called the fire brigade after another neighbour knocked on his door to warn him that a fire had broken out in a flat attached to his house at 3.30pm yesterday.

The father-of-one turned on his garden hose and aimed it the property's burning roof, while the other man attempted to kick down the door. 

Emergency services arrived about seven minutes later. 

Entering the property wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters searched the property, which was filled with old papers, magazines, clothing and leaflets. 

They found a man, believed to be in his 50s, unconscious. 

Despite attempts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Mr Baliukeuiciene, who had lived next to the victim for four years but had never met him, said: “I noticed a burning smell about 20 minutes earlier, but ignored it as quite often on Sundays people have bonfires around here. 

“Then a neighbour started banging on my front door saying that the flat was on fire. 

“We were worried that the man may still be inside.  

"He is disabled and we only see him outside of his house once a month.  

Epping Forest Guardian:

The melted remains of a bin liner said to have been used as curtains can be seen in the window.

“I ran through my house and grabbed the garden hose because I was hoping I could stop the fire spreading. 

“Another neighbour was trying to kick down the front door but I told him to stop because I had heard that the fire may spread quicker if you do that. 

“I was so worried for the man inside. 

"One neighbour was having a panic attack and another was shouting for him to see if he was inside. 

“It is an absolute tragedy that he did not make it out alive. 

“We did what anybody would have in trying to help out.” 

Epping Forest Guardian:

Residents in Gravel Close fought to save the neighbour who was trapped inside.

Mr Baliukeuiciene's wife Ieva, 37, said she was stunned to discover what had happened when she returned home. 

She said: “I couldn’t believe it, it is so sad. 

“I shielded my son's eyes as we walked past to go home as they had brought our neighbour outside but it was too late. 

“He had bin liners as curtains and a lot of stuff piled up in his home and he never really spoke to anyone. 

“It is such a shame, a total tragedy.” 

Fire service community safety officer, Tony Howard, said: “The man was found in the bedroom of the property. 

“An investigation is now underway to see whether the fire was accidental, arson or murder. 

"The cause of death has not yet been established but it is likely down to smoke inhalation. 

“It is sad as residents have lived here for more than 17 years yet nobody knows his name.”