'That's somebody's grandma in there and I just knew that it was up to me, Johnny on the spot I had to. Adrenaline took over and you had to go in.”

These are the confident yet emotional words of police officer Senior Constable Adrian Oldham who today recounted the night he saved a 77-year-old from her burning Mount Maunganui home.

Papamoa police officer Senior Constable Adrian Oldham speaks about the fire at Maranui Street.

Senior Constable Adrian Oldham with Western BOP Area Commander Clifford Paxton.

The 53-year-old has been shot at and kidnapped in his 35 years on the force, but has never saved someone's life.

'I would do the same again at the drop of a hat. It doesn't matter whether it is somebody's nana, or somebody with a patch on their back. You just do it.”

The Papamoa officer was undertaking a routine patrol on Maranui Street when he came across the house on fire about 6.20pm on Sunday.

He admitted at a press conference at Tauranga Police Station today he initially thought the fire was a barbecue gone out of control.

Running to the ranch slider of the single storey home, the officer began banging on the door, at which point the 77-year-old resident inside came towards the door.

'If she hadn't come to the door I probably wouldn't have gone into that house like I did.”

Before the woman could unlock the door she collapsed and fell backwards disappearing into the black smoke filled room.

Adrian attempted to break the door but was unable to get access and instead smashed a side window and frame to get into the house.

'I opened my eyes once or twice and couldn't see I thing, I was just going by feel. It was just black acidic smoke and I have never experienced anything like it,” says Adrian.

He searched through the smoke-logged home but was unable to locate the woman. Struggling to breathe he was forced to go back to the window for air.

Realising he was the only person at the scene he took another deep breath before crawling about 12 feet to the woman.

Pulling her to the window by her ankles, Adrian and Papamoa Police Constable Shane McCarthy, who had by this time entered through another window, laid their duty jackets across the broken window and pulled the woman to safety.

He admits the emotional gravity of what he did, didn't sink in until the following day but he has been told by firefighters if he hadn't entered the house the woman would have died.

Adrian suffered cuts to his hand and smoke inhalation in the rescue, and shared an ambulance with the fire victim to Tauranga Hospital.

'I spoke to her in one of the cubicles [at Tauranga Hospital] and she was lively. I don't think the reality of what had happened to her had sunk in.”

The elderly resident, who did not want to be named, issued a statement through Tauranga Hospital yesterday thanking Adrian for his life-saving efforts.

'He was just absolutely amazing. I could not have wished for anybody better. If I had passed out and nobody had been there I wouldn't be here now.

'He saved my life and it was my lucky day. I think God said we don't want her to leave just yet.”

He and Constable McCarthy have also received praise from Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton and Police Commissioner Mike Bush who said the officers 'acted in the finest traditions of the NZ Police”.

"Every day I see the outstanding work which the men and women of New Zealand Police undertake to keep people safe in their communities. Last night's rescue could not be a better demonstration of this.”

Adrian says his 24-year old son, 22-year-old daughter, 3-year-old grandson and wife all think he is a hero.

The fire was started by an electric blanket that ignited in the 77-year-old resident's hands. The house was left gutted by the blaze.