NSW: Man jumps three floors to escape fire

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-1999
NSW: Man jumps three floors to escape fire

A man has jumped from the third floor of an apartment building to escape a fire in southern
Sydney.

Fire brigades spokesman IAN KRIMMER says a man suffered a back injury after jumping from
the third floor of the unit in Ocean Street, Cronulla, during the fire.

The fire broke out beneath the unit complex around 3am (AEST) today.

Inspector KRIMMER says one man fled the building and returned with a ladder, which he used
to rescue 10 of his neighbours.

And firefighters rescued another 12 people who'd been trapped on balconies.

Insp KRIMMER says if it hadn't been for a smoke alarm in the building people could have
died in the fire.

An ambulance spokesman says the residents suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to
Sutherland Hospital.

Firefighters from Sutherland, Cronulla and Miranda extinguished the blaze within an hour
and the fire is being treated as suspicious.

AAP RTV ls/lm

KEYWORD: FIRE (SYDNEY)

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