Edinburgh dad leaps 20ft from first floor balcony to escape flats inferno

An Edinburgh dad has told of the moment he leapt from the first-floor balcony when a fire ripped through a flat.

Andrew Bond, 36, who lives in Niddrie Mills Crescent with his partner Maureen and their two children, hurled himself from the balcony and dived onto a mattress - while Maureen and his cousin William were quickly rescued by firefighters. Thankfully, the two kids aged 12 and four were away staying with family.

The 36-year-old said he noticed how dark the flat was getting and 'had to get away'. A neighbour, Stewart Henderson, 63, helped drag an old mattress under the balcony.

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Andrew said: "I first thought the fire alarm was just from someone cooking. I didn't think anything of it until I heard people shouting. I walked out of the door and the whole stairwell was black.

"I went back inside and shouted to Maureen and William to get to the balcony. And I jumped."

He added: "It was the scariest thing I've ever been through in my life. When I came down, the paramedics rushed over and gave out oxygen. I was pure white, I felt like I was going to faint.

"I couldn't be more grateful to the firefighters for putting their lives at risk. The paramedics did a great job too with such a quick response."

However, the thought of returning back to their home has left the young family in fear. He said: "Even now going into the flat scares us. We have two young children, what if it happens again when they are home? I was petrified.

"It's really shaken everyone up. We were lucky to get out the way we did."

Ten people were rushed to hospital and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were there until 10.17pm. Police remain at the scene.

The Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 6.37pm on Wednesday, November 6 to attend an incident on Niddrie Mill Crescent, Edinburgh. We dispatched multiple resources to the scene, including four ambulances and 3 special operations response teams (SORT). We transported 10 patients to Royal Infirmary Edinburgh.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted 6.35pm on Wednesday to reports of a dwelling fire at Niddrie Mill Crescent, Edinburgh.

“Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and one height vehicle and firefighters extinguished a fire affecting a ground floor flat within a three-storey block of flats.

“A number of casualties were in the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service and received treatment at the scene.

“Crews left at 10.17pm after ensuring the area was made safe.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 6.40pm on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 we were called to a fire at a block of flats in Niddrie Mill Crescent in Edinburgh.

"Officers remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances."