Reading fire: Terrifying moment worker trapped on top of burning 16-storey skyscraper begs for help as flames erupt

TERRIFYING footage has caught the moment a worker trapped on top of a burning 16-storey skyscraper frantically begged for help. 

The man can be seen desperately waving his coat in the air to try to get someone’s attention as flames inch closer to him. 

The shocking clip was snapped in Reading on Wednesday, before the stranded man was luckily bundled into a cage and pulled to safety. 

Clips show the heart-stopping moment the fire seemingly grows, inching closer and closer to the man. 

Huge black plumes of smoke can then be seen billowing from the tower - before the stranded man manages to get someone's attention.

It was then that Glen Edwards' eagle eye came into play.

Glen, who has been operating the machines for 30 years, was driving it at the time when he saw someone "waving his coat" at the top of the engulfed building.

He said: "I got a radio call to get the man. I was being [supervised] from the ground.

"I knew the person was at that level. But the wind was blowing the cage about.

"I was just waiting for the smoke to clear. I could see I was putting it down in the flames. The supervisor told me when he was in."

It is understood a second person was also saved during the inferno, which saw 50 firefighters scramble to the scene.

Another construction worker has since hailed Glen a "hero", adding: "If he had been any longer, it would have been a very different ending."

Smoke could be seen for miles as the building, which is close to the town's train station, ferociously burnt on.

An air ambulance was rushed to the area, and the two people rescued pulled from the burning building were quickly taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

South Central Ambulance Service said: "I can confirm we've taken two people to the Royal Berkshire Hospital for further assessment and treatment for smoke inhalation, neither of whom were severe cases.

"We are now on stand-by supporting the fire service (which is a standard operational procedure when they are working at height and at scale).

"We have our hazardous area response team, an ambulance, the Thames Valley Air Ambulance critical care car, an operational commander, a tactical adviser and a tactical commander at the scene."

The blaze started at Station Hill development site.

Redwood Consulting, on behalf of Station Hill, said: "We activated our fire emergency plans immediately, the emergency services were notified and are currently on site.

"The safety of those on site and the wider public is always our first priority, and the site has been evacuated as a result.

"As soon as we have more information we will provide an update."

Residents who live close were asked to keep all doors and windows shut as emergency services work to extinguish the flames in the hours that followed. 

Those working in nearby officer were also forced to evacuate their buildings and the area. 

Crews are still probing the cause of the blaze.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said at the time: "At 11:38am on Thursday, 23 November, we received reports of a fire near Napier Road in Reading.

"A number of our crews are currently on the scene. While emergency services work, we ask that people avoid the area where possible and close windows and doors if you live or work nearby.”