Crane Operator describes burning building rescue
More than 50 firefighters were sent to the scene in Reading....2 people have been taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke
Last updated 23rd Nov 2023
A workman's been dramatically rescued by a quick thinking crane operator from Surrey - from the roof of a burning high-rise building in Reading town centre.
The fire broke out at the Station Hill construction site this morning.
More than 50 firefighters were sent to the scene....2 people have been taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke.
Footage on social media showed flames and thick black smoke billowing from what appeared to be a tall construction site near the centre of the Berkshire town.
One video appeared to show a workman who was trapped on the roof being lifted to safety by a crane.
Glen Edwards, 65, from Egham, Surrey, told the PA news agency: "I was no more than 20 metres up in the air and I looked out my left-hand window and saw a guy standing on the corner of the building.
"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.
"I tried to put the cage down between him and the flames, but I was hampered by the wind swirling around there.
"But I got the cage down and I managed to get him in there."
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received reports of the blaze near Napier Road at 11.38am on Thursday.
It said: "A number of our crews are currently on the scene. While emergency services work, we ask that people avoid the area where possible and close windows and doors if you live or work nearby."
A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service said two people had been taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
The 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.
"We are now on stand-by supporting the fire service (which is a standard operational procedure when they are working at height and at scale).
"We have our hazardous area response team, an ambulance, the Thames Valley Air Ambulance critical care car, an operational commander, a tactical adviser and a tactical commander at the scene."
Redwood Consulting, on behalf of Station Hill, said: "We activated our fire emergency plans immediately, the emergency services were notified and are currently on site.
"The safety of those on site and the wider public is always our first priority, and the site has been evacuated as a result."