A video capturing the daring rescue of a man trapped on a burning skyscraper in the United Kingdom has gone viral online. The incident occurred in Reading on Thursday, as reported by The Independent. The footage circulating on social media shows a massive fire engulfing a construction site, with the man stranded on the roof surrounded by flames and thick black smoke. In a heart-stopping moment, a metal cage is carefully lowered, allowing the man to climb in and be hoisted to safety.
The video was filmed in Reading city center, showing the terrifying sight of the fire inching closer to the trapped man. Enormous plumes of black smoke can also be seen billowing from the skyscraper. The operation to rescue the man was described as a “very close call” by the crane operator, Glen Edwards, as reported by The Guardian. Edwards was compelled to take action when a large fire broke out at the construction site.
Edwards recalled, “I was no more than 20 meters up in the air when I looked out my left-hand window and saw a guy standing on the corner of the building. I had only just seen him when someone said, ‘Can you get the cage on?’ So, I quickly got the cage and maneuvered it over to him as best as I could.” He emphasized the difficulty of the rescue due to the swirling wind, stating, “I would say it was a very close call if you look at the video and see how the wind was swirling around there. I tried to position the cage between him and the flames, but the wind made it challenging. Nevertheless, I managed to get the cage down and get him inside.”
The fire service in Berkshire reported that 50 firefighters were present at the scene near Napier Road, and by mid-afternoon, the fire had been extinguished. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two main jets to put out the fire. The ambulance service confirmed that the two individuals taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation were not in severe condition. Thames Valley Police stated they are working to allow access for unaffected residents and hotels. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
