RESIDENTS told how they tried to save a man from his burning flat in Brighton on Friday night.

Valerie Rudd, 73, who lives on the floor where the fire broke out, told how she first became aware of it from the “waves of intoxicating smoke”.

She said when her carer, Chris Pannett, opened the door to a frantic knock from the neighbour, the smoke flooded in her room.

She said: “Chris opened the door and suddenly it was like someone was holding a black sheet up in front of my eyes. The smoke that flooded the flat was unbelievable. It was just waves of intoxicating smoke. The flat next door was on fire and Chris went to try and get the neighbour out, but the smoke was too much.

“I was coughing and spluttering holding a wet flannel to my face, but I tried to shout to see if the man was ok. He didn’t answer and I thought oh my god he’s passed out. He’s an elderly chap.”

Ms Rudd then called the fire service and shut herself in her flat.

She said: “I was surprisingly calm during the fire but afterwards I had serious shakes. I have arthritis in my knees which makes me pretty immobile. I also have diabetes and other medical issues so it would be pretty terrifying if someone said you need to get out now, and quick.”

Geraldine and Adam O’Sullivan who live on the sixth floor said they knew about the fire when they looked out their window on Friday night and struggled to see any of the city lights down below.

Mrs O’Sullivan said: “There was thick black fog outside. My husband opened the window and it came whooshing in.

"We were on the phone to neighbours and could hear children screaming in the background.

"I had to grab a terrified, screaming child and take her with us.


“We couldn’t go down the stairs because of the smoke and had to get in the lift.

“Her mother wasn’t at home and her grandmother wanted to go and find her partner who lives on a different floor. The whole experience was horrendous and traumatic.”

Leslie Morrison who lives just opposite the flat that caught fire said she feared for her granddaughter’s life.

She said: “Lily, who is only five, and I were about to watch Emmerdale.

“But when Geraldine burst in to grab her I had to go and check on my partner who lives on a different floor. Lily was snatched to safety and I crawled up the fire stairs, really struggling in the thick black smoke. I was almost impossible to breathe.

"I bumped into a firefighter on the stairs who said I couldn’t go any further.

"But I had to go and see my partner. He had a stroke not long ago and he’s struggled with his health since.

“The firefighter just grabbed me and flung me over his shoulder and took me back down. He said it was too dangerous.”

Ms Morrison said although Lily had been rescued from the building, the time they spent apart during the incident was traumatising.

She said: “I knew she had been taken in safe hands, but it’s the nature of the beast, I had to see her for myself to make sure she was ok, so when we were separated it was horrendous for me.”

Ms Morrison said since the fire, Lily has not been able to sleep in her own bed, and her grandson is too terrified to come and visit them in the building.

On Friday night firefighters battled with a blaze in a seven-storey block of flats.

Eight fire engines from Lewes, Roedean, Brighton, Hove, and West Sussex were called to Donald Hall Road, Brighton, at just before 7pm.

An elderly man was rescued from the flat and was taken to the hospital.

Residents believe he knocked over a small heater in his room which led to the fire outbreak.

Roads in the area were blocked and pedestrians were diverted.

A Brighton and Hove Bus was parked up for residents to sit on when they managed to escape the building.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “At 8.21pm, the incident was brought under control after crews ventilated the building and had carried out welfare and home safety checks on all remaining residents.”

A fire investigation was due to take place on Saturday.