A FALKLANDS veteran who sank the warship Belgrano had to leap naked from an upstairs window to escape a blaze at his north home.
And former submariner Bill Budding – nicknamed “Belgrano Bill” because he fired the torpedos that sank the Argentinian flagship – said yesterday he was more afraid of being naked in public than being trapped in the heat and smoke of his bedroom.
After leaving hospital, he praised his squash-playing 6ft 4in neighbour James Henderson who shouted at him to jump, then broke his fall when he took the plunge from the first floor of the two-storey semi in Harald Road, Thurso.
Mr Budding, 68, said he was having an early night on Thursday and was dozing when he noticed smoke coming into the room.
The former navy man got out of his bed and opened the door.
Yesterday, he said he was angry with himself for not remembering the firefighting training he received in the Royal Navy, when he served on the submarine HMS Conqueror.
“Everyone knows the last thing you do when there’s a fire is to open the door,” he said.
“I just didn’t think. I did completely the wrong thing.
“I opened the door, it was a big mistake, and it just blasted me. I was hit by the smoke and incredible heat.
“I picked up my phone and my glasses and eventually managed to open the window, but was bothered about jumping out because I had no clothes on.
“I was more worried about being naked than anything else.”
Mr Budding climbed out the window and was hanging there when his neighbour came to his aid.
“My mate, who is 6ft 4ins, was calling ‘come on – drop’ and he cushioned my fall,” he said.
“I had grazes down my legs from the wall, but the worst thing was the smoke inhalation. I couldn’t breathe properly.
“I was on oxygen in hospital and my skin is all blackened from the smoke, but otherwise I’m fine.”
Mr Budding was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene by paramedics, then taken to Caithness General Hospital in Wick by ambulance and kept in overnight.
He said he was very grateful to his neighbour for helping him and he hoped to track down a woman passerby, who raised the alarm, so he could thank her too.
An older couple living next door were evacuated for a short time in case the fire spread to their property, but it was not affected.
Fire engines from Thurso and Wick attended the incident, which was reported at around 8.30pm.
A fire service spokesman said: “Firefighters in breathing apparatus used two hose-reel jets to extinguish the fire, which destroyed much of the lower level of the property and caused extensive smoke damage throughout the rest of the house.”
Thurso watch manager Kevin Tait, who was at the scene, said: “This property was fitted with a smoke detection system and highlights how important it is that people have a smoke detector and that it is in working order.
“We urge people to test their smoke alarms every week and, if you don’t have one fitted, please call Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and ask for a free home fire safety visit.”
Mr Budding picked up the Belgrano Bill nickname from customers at the nearby Bower Inn, which he ran for many years after leaving the navy.