A TERRIFIED pensioner feels he may be a victim of mistaken identity after arsonists set fire to his Exeter home.
Stan Horn, 81, who has lived in Shakespeare Road, Wonford, for more than 50 years, said he is shaken but lucky to be alive after his home went up in flames after a petrol can was set alight on Saturday night.
He said it was only a last minute decision to stay up and watch the cage fighting on television that saved his life.
He said: "I was very shocked and shaken. It was frightening. I thought the whole house was going to go up. If I had gone to bed, I would have been burnt alive. I would certainly be dead. I take sleeping tablets and am normally in bed at that time. I guess deciding to watch the cage fighting did save my life."
Retired bricklayer Mr Horn lives with his son, but he was out at the time. Mr Horn said he heard a 'whoosh' at around 10.45pm, looked up and saw the flames that had risen so high they had blocked his escape route.
Police say the fire is being treated as suspicious and the investigation into the cause of the blaze continues.
