An elderly woman pulled to safety from her burning home by two Papamoa police officers is today thanking the men for their life-saving efforts.

Speaking from Tauranga Hospital today, the 77-year-old Maranui Street resident, who has requested not to be named, says she wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the efforts of Senior Constable Adrian Oldham.

The 77-year-old woman's Maranui Street home was left gutted by fire.

'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.”

The resident was at home about 6.20pm Sunday when she went to turn off the electric blanket on her bed.

'I flicked the control and it ignited in my hand. I hurried into the bathroom and put a towel in some water to try and douse the flames, but by the time I got back it had already spread too far. The whole bed was alight.

'I went to the bedroom window and saw the policeman coming over. I don't think he was on duty or anything he wasn't in his uniform.

'The smoke was getting thicker and next thing I was on my back overcome by it and must've passed out.”

Senior Constable Oldham was undertaking a routine patrol when he saw the woman's house was on fire. He ran to the ranchslider when he saw the woman collapse on the floor.

The 53-year-old officer then smashed a window to gain access to the house. He searched through the black smoke struggling to breathe, feeling his away along the floor to the woman.

After locating her and pulling her to the window, Adrian and Constable Shane McCarthy from Papamoa Police, who entered through another window, laid their duty jackets across the broken window and were able to pull the woman from the house to safety.

Read more about the rescue here.

By this time the house was ablaze with firefighters from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui Brigades working on the fire.

'That's the last I remember until I heard somebody saying: ‘Here's the ambulance, we're taking you to hospital'.”

Both the 77-year-old and Adrian were taken to Tauranga Hospital suffering smoke inhalation. Adrian was later discharged.

The woman also thanked friends and neighbours who had come to her assistance.

She currently remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Adrian will speak more about the lifesaving rescue at a media conference at 1pm tomorrow.

SunLive will have a full report following the press conference.