UK NEWS

NEIGHBOURS SAVE FAMILY FORCED TO LEAP FROM BLAZE

Saturday December 29,2007

By Kurt Bayer

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THREE children escaped a terrifying house blaze yesterday after they were thrown from a first-floor window into the arms of brave neighbours.

Fire chiefs described the rescue as a “miracle” after a fire broke out on the ground floor of the Dundee home at 5am yesterday.

Neighbour Robert Duncan suffered a suspected broken wrist after catching one of the young children who were dropped out the window by their mother.

Pauline Fotheringham, 30, had been sleeping in the house in Dundee, with her three children, Thea, 4, Rebekkah, 3, and 18-month-old Ronan, when the fire started in the downstairs kitchen.

Neighbour, Alex Anderson sprang into action when he was awoken at 5am by his dog barking and saw flames through his back door.

Yesterday machine operator Mr Anderson, 46, described the ordeal as he caught the youngsters.

He said: “When I saw where the fire was coming from, I knew kids were in the house and instincts kicked in. I knew I had to get them out as quickly as possible.

“I ran over screaming and shouting to get other neighbours outside to help. The woman inside the flat appeared at the top bedroom window with her kids and I screamed for her to drop them out the window.

“She got the oldest one first and I caught her on my own, which was so scary. I was so scared about dropping her.

“Then she got the young baby and by that time another neighbour appeared which was a great help. Catching a baby from that height is terrifying, but we caught her. Then by the time the next child was dropped down, all the neighbours had rallied around which was great.”

Mr Anderson said that by the time the children were in safety, the inferno had started to grow. He added: “The mum was starting to get overcome by the smoke and by this time the flames were really reaching up to her window but she was very brave. She climbed out the window and everyone caught her. That was when Mr Duncan broke his wrist.”

Ms Fotheringham was treated for shock and all three children were checked by paramedics. The family dog was also rescued by the fire service.

Tayside Police and Fire and Rescue Service have launched a joint investigation.

A police spokeswoman said: “There are no apparent suspicious circumstances.”