Sister’s phone call saves boy from house fire in Witherington Road

Published: 19 March 2010
by JOSH LEOB

A TEENAGER woke up to find his room full of black smoke after his sister called his mobile phone by chance.

Firefighters feared the 15-year-old, who was trapped in a burning house, was dead when they arrived at the scene, and prepared his distraught mother for the worst by telling her to go to a friend’s house.

They rescued the boy, who reportedly used his mobile to guide them to his location in a second-floor bedroom in the house in Witherington Road, Highbury.

Friends said the youngster was alone in the house and asleep when a tumble dryer “exploded” at 11.10am on Saturday.

A neighbour said: “His father was walking the dog, his mother was also out and his sister was at a friend’s. She called him by chance when he was asleep, which woke him up and he realised there was a fire.” 

Around 20 firefighters were called to the incident which damaged part of the second floor of the house and around half of its roof. The boy was led to safety down an internal staircase and was treated for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service.

Islington Fire Station watch manager Tony Marshall said: “Thanks to the advice the boy was receiving from our 999 control operators he was able to give exact details of where he was in the house and crews were able locate and rescue him very quickly.”