A “Close Call” says Crane Operator as He Rescues Man from Burning Building
Edwards rescuing man from burning building (Source: X/ChrLauder)
A large fire broke out at the Station Hill development site in Reading Berkshire Town on Thursday morning.
Glen Edwards, 65, from Egham, Surrey, rescued a man trapped in the building. He said, “I was no more than 20 meters up in the air.
“I looked out my left-hand window and saw a guy standing on the corner of the building.”
2 men were rescued by crane and taken to the hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
Edwards called the rescue a “close call” as flames and smoke attempted to engulf them both.
“I’d only just seen him, and someone said, ‘Can you get the cage on’ so that was it. I got the cage on and got it over to him the best I could.
“It was quite windy conditions.”
He added, “I would say it was a very close call if you look at the video at the way the wind was swirling around there.
“But I got the cage down and I managed to get him in there.”
Heroic Rescue
Edwards was working at the site before the fire broke out.
Christopher Hutton from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said, “Just after half 11 today, we received reports of a fire on Station Hill in Reading.
“At its peak, over 50 firefighters were on the scene from fire stations across the country.
“Crews found the fire in a high-rise building under construction.
“Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus used two main jets to extinguish the fire.”
A South-Central Ambulance Service spokesperson said, “I can confirm we’ve taken two people to the Royal Berkshire Hospital for further assessment and treatment for smoke inhalation, neither of whom were severe cases.”
On behalf of Station Hill, Redwood Consulting activated their “emergency fire plans immediately” and notified emergency services.
Hutton says they sent a crew to remain at the scene to “dampen” it down.
