Village publican suffers stroke after escaping suspected arson attack

Mike Garnett 65, was in bed at the Red Lion, Goostrey, when farmworker Jonathan Elliott spotted a window box on fire below the open window of the room where he was asleep.

He woke in the smoke-filled room shortly before 6am on Saturday July 24 as Jonathan grabbed a hosepipe stored nearby and started putting out the flames.

Mike managed to struggle downstairs in the 18th-century inn and take over fighting the blaze from Jonathan who was on his way to early morning milking at Rhodes family farm in Mill Lane.

Afterwards, Mike spoke of being shaken by the incident and said he was certain the fire had been started deliberately because the window box had been well watered after the pub closed.

His daughter Michaela, who was married only a week before the incident, said her dad had suffered quite a bad stroke on Tuesday night and so far there had been no further developments on the fire.

Mike Garnett suspects the flower window box was set on fire deliberately

"It will have definitely added stress and I’m sure, unfortunately, it has had an impact," said Michaela.

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"We can't visit him at the moment due to hospital rules but my mum, Karen, is speaking to the wonderful staff there a couple of times a day and is popping back and to the hospital with bits for him.

"From what they're telling us, he's suffered some more severe symptoms, he is already getting stronger and recovering well with some speech and physical therapy.

"We are not quite sure when he will be coming home but happy he is in the best place at the moment and as a family are sending him all the love in the world."

Mike, who is in the Royal Stoke Hospital, has previously suffered a stroke.

The Red Lion is now opening reduced hours from 3.30pm to 8pm.