Man and dog escape through window after arson attack

A man has escaped serious injury in a "reprehensible" arson fire at his home by climbing through a window while carrying his dog.

The man was asleep in his house on the Slaughtmanus Road, outside Londonderry, in the early hours of Thursday when he was alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm and his dog barking.

After going out the window, he used a garden hose to tackle the blaze until firefighters arrived.

The man was treated at the scene by the ambulance service and then taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Considerable smoke damage was caused to the house by the blaze, which the fire service believe was started deliberately.

Police said it was "sheer fortune" that the occupant was able to get out of the house.

"This was a reprehensible attack which we're investigating as arson with intent to endanger life," Insp Connolly said.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish who was involved and why this occurred.

"We're appealing to anyone who may have been travelling in this area around 3am, or who has information or relevant dash cam which may assist our enquiries, to call us."