Man trapped in fire rescued after calling 999 from cellphone

Published: January 4, 2007 | 5243rd good news item since 2003

A man used his mobile to call for help before being overcome by smoke at a blaze.

Firefighters arrived at a ground-floor flat in Norton Road, Hove, and found a man in his 30s unconscious on the bathroom floor.

He was given oxygen and taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton where his condition is not thought to be serious.

Residents from five other flats in the building were evacuated.

The fire started in a utility cupboard and created a lot of smoke throughout the flat during the incident, which happened at about 11.30pm last night.

However the heat melted plastic-coated water pipes which triggered a flood and meant the blaze did not catch hold.

A brigade spokesman said: “Luckily the man had his phone with him and was able to tell us exactly where he was so when we arrived we were able to get to him quickly. He was very lucky.”

Published in Rescues
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