The Fonz praises firefighters after Dublin blaze

Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz in the US sitcom Happy Days, was among staff and guests evacuated during a fire at a Dublin hotel.

The actor is staying at the Shelbourne Hotel, when the fire service was called at 10:38 (local time) on Wednesday.

Six engines were sent to the deal with the fire on the fifth floor of the city centre hotel.

Mr Winkler told Irish state broadcaster RTÉ that he was woken by what he thought was an alarm clock but realised it was the fire alarm going off.

The actor is in Ireland to promote his memoir.

Mr Winkler was seen thanking members of Dublin Fire Brigade.

He said these people were some of his “favourite human beings. Firemen and firewomen. They run in when other people are running out.”

The blaze at the historic hotel, known as The Grand Dame of Dublin, was brought under control in less than an hour.