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INFERNO ESCAPE
Heart-stopping moment baby rescued from horror blaze that killed two after ‘screaming’ mum used torch to signal help
Fire crews took desperate measures to make sure everyone was safely evacuated
THIS is the heartstopping moment a baby is rescued from a blazing building.
The tot and their mum were trapped on the second floor of their tenement block after a fire erupted in the flat below.
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The mother frantically flashed lights on her phone to get the attention of emergency crews and let them know she was there.
Moments later firefighters clambered up a ladder and were handed the tot out the window.
A fireman was spotted carrying the baby, who was wrapped in a blanket, to safety.
The mum was then helped down the ladder at the scene of the incident in Aberdeen. It’s thought both were taken away in an ambulance.
The unbelievable rescue was captured by eyewitness Paul Samat.
He said: “It was nerve-wracking and pretty intense. The mum must have been so worried.
“I watched as the baby was handed out the window. Everything seemed to be pretty much under control.
“But that’s a fair height. Anything can go wrong in situations like that. As I dad I can’t even begin to think how the mum must have been feeling.”
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The alarm was raised at about 6pm on Monday night and emergency teams raced to the scene on Back Hilton Road.
Paul was walking past when he noticed smoke and got there before the fire engines and ambulances.
He spotted smoke pouring out of a window and the shadow of a woman on the level above.
His incredible footage shows flames billowing out of a window. The mum can also be seen looking out of the window above.
It’s thought teams had to put the blaze out before they could safely get the ladder up and rescue the mum and tot.
Paul said: “On the outside I was calm and composed, but inside I was thinking ‘oh my God.’
“Something could have gone really, really wrong.”
A couple at the scene claimed the blaze had broken out in their flat and blamed it on a candle.
Paul said: “The woman was sobbing. She said that was their room. They both made it out okay but they were upset.”
Later cops revealed that two women died in the fire, while a baby was taken to hospital but then discharged.
Paul was baffled when he was told someone had passed away because it appeared that everyone had got to safety.
Crews evacuated everyone from the block that went on fire as well as the adjoining building.
They smashed their way into flats where they didn’t get an answer to make sure they were empty.
Ashley Finnie, 43, lives through the wall from the pad that went on fire.
She watched on her Ring doorbell as crews evacuated her building and they broke into her place.
The shop worker and childminder said: "It was a shock. I wanted to know what had gone on fire. I was stressed and worried about my lizards."
Ashley was allowed in to check on her pets the day after the blaze.
She said: "There is a strong smell of smoke. I've no idea when I'll be allowed to move back in.
"But it could have been a lot worse. It just doesn't bear thinking about.
"I hope those who were in the fire didn't realise what was happening. It is just awful."
Fire investigation teams turned up yesterday to begin the probe into the fire.
A police spokesman said: “Emergency services attended and two women were pronounced dead at the scene.
“A baby was taken to hospital as a precaution and was later discharged.
“The fire was put out by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution.
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“The road was closed but has now re-opened and we would like to thank people for their patience.
"A joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is ongoing to establish the full circumstances. However, there are no apparent suspicious circumstances at this time.”
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