Moment man fleeing Afriland Tower fire jumped and missed rescue cushion (Video)
Critically injured, hospitalised with three others
A viral video has shown the moment a man fleeing the Afriland Tower fire jumped from the second floor but narrowly missed the make-shift rescue cushion, critically injuring himself.
The incident happened on Tuesday when fire gutted a six-storey building at the Afriland Tower, which houses many businesses, including a branch of the United Bank for Africa on Broad Street, Lagos Island.
A viral video of the incident shows trapped occupants of the building peeping out of the glass windows in a bid to escape.
Some on the second floor throw down a huge piece of cushion. One of the men climbs out of the window, hangs on to the window and lets go.
He lands on the cushion on the ground and the waiting arms of some men on the ground.
Then, a second man, who is heavier in build, climbs out of the same window. He is carrying a backpack. Someone on the ground can be heard shouting that he should remove the backpack. But he, apparently, cannot hear.
He jumps, but first lands on the edge of the first floor, which changes his direction from the centre of the rescue jump cushion.
The victim then landed on the concrete floor, critically injuring himself.
The men on the ground frantically gestured to the others, eager to jump to stop, while efforts are made for an alternative rescue strategy.
The Deputy Controller of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, told newsmen his men were informed of the fire at 1:38 p.m.
According to him, firemen from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations raced to the scene.
Olajide said the fire started from the inverter room in the building’s basement. He said smoke from the affected room quickly enveloped multiple floors and engulfed the structure.
The firefighters said that 11 people were rescued and put in ambulances for quick transportation to the hospital.
Five people who lost consciousness, apparently as a result of the smoke, were reportedly resuscitated.
See the video here.
Also read: Fire outbreak k!lls two siblings locked inside apartment by their mum in Ondo
