Panic over!Found the information I needed on another website and the tar is now history!! In case anyone is interested we used WD40. Spray it on thick white paper towel,dab it on the tar, and then rub/dab it with clean paper towel and the tar is removed.Fortunately we have a Vax Carpet Shampooer so will give the carpet a complete clean tomorrow. Amazingly my husband is still alive and not buried under the patio.