Santa rescues NSW man from burning home

A firefighter dressed as Santa Claus has brought Christmas cheer early to one NSW family after rescuing a 20-year-old man from a burning home.

Nick Carey had been playing Santa with his crew from the NSW Fire and Rescue Telarah brigade in the Hunter Valley while out on patrol when they saw smoke from a nearby house, News Corp reports.

Mr Carey, still dressed in full costume, and his colleagues immediately responded, breaking down the front door of the house.

In video of the rescue, Mr Carey can be seen helping drag a hose across the front lawn of the property.

He can then be seen conducting CPR on the young man who had stopped breathing.

"The BA (breathing apparatus) crew radioed­ that they’ve found someone inside so I went up to the front door to help carry him out,” he told the media outlet.

“I think the beard and the hat came off when we started the resuscitation,” he said.

“It’s definitely the weirdest and most awkward situation I’ve found myself in.”

The fire victim remained in a stable condition in John Hunter Hospital yesterday, according to News Corp.