BURNED ALIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1923, Page 5

BURNED ALIVE.

FIRE IN A HOSPITAL. A TERRIBLE SCENE. HEROIC RESCUE-WORK. Thrilling scenes occurred during a fire in a hospital for disabled soldiers at Birmingham. Tho fire spread quickly and two patients were burned to death. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, June 14. A fire occurred in an open-air ward of the Ministry of Pensions’ hospital for disabled soldiers at Birmingham. Of twelve men in the ward at the time of the outbreak, twelve spinal patients who were strapped to their beds, were unable tn move. They became terror-stricken as they saw the flames approaching, and a constable and two hospital orderlies made gallant efforts to rescue them. The smoke was so dense that they had to take spells in the fresh air. The fire spread with the greatest rapidity owing to a high wind. Several patients had their clothes burned, but all were saved except two. In a final effort the rescuers reached a burning bed and brought out a mass of bedclothes, but the man inside died in a few moments. The other man was burned alive. Major Tryon, replying to Mr. Chamberlain in the House of Commons, said the hospital at Highbury, Birmingham, was rot o<vned by the Ministry of Pensions. The .rescue work carried, out during the fire was worthy of fhe highest praise. The cause of the fire was stijl unknown.

Expressing sympathy with the relatives of the men killed, he said that claims by deceased’s dependents would be generously and sympathetically dealt with. The building was the- latest of its kind and was erected at considerable cost. Inquiries were being made into the whole of the circumstances, including the suitability of the type of building.