Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Wednesday 20°CThursday 22°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
"Michelle was a getting up with James when she smelled burning plastic. She went into the living room and saw smoke coming in under the door. She woke me and we put on our clothes as quick as we could. I went to see if we could get out the front door but the hallway was full of black smoke. "We put ourselves in the kitchen and put wet towels on our mouths keep the smoke away. '"The fire brigade came a couple of minutes later and they got James out the window, but we haas to wait until they broke the window before they could get us out." Richard was speaking to the Derry Daily after returning from hospital where he was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. He said: "They carried out a few tests. I am alright. Everything seems ok."
News

FLAT FIRE: “WE THOUGHT WE WERE STUFFED” – SAYS RESCUED FATHER

written by stephen November 15, 2013
ShareTweet

A man who, along with his partner and their one year old son, was among a number of people rescued after being becoming trapped by a fire at a block of flats in Derry this morning, has said they thought they were going to die.

"Michelle was a getting up with James when she smelled burning plastic. She went into the living room and saw smoke coming in under the door. She woke me and we put on our clothes as quick as we could. I went to see if we could get out the front door but the hallway was full of black smoke.  "We put ourselves  in the kitchen and put wet towels on our mouths keep the smoke away.  '"The fire brigade came a couple of minutes later and they got James out the window, but we haas to wait until they broke the window before they could get us out."  Richard was speaking to the Derry Daily after returning from hospital where he was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.  He said: "They carried out a few tests. I am alright. Everything seems ok."

Richard Meenan outside the flat ffrom which he, his partner and infant son were rescued by firefighters.

Richard Meenan was speaking after firefighters rescued him, his girlfriend Michelle and their one-year-old son James after they became trapped in their upstairs flat in Carnhill.

They and a number of other residents were prevented from getting out of the building by thick black smoke in the communal stairwell of the building where a large rug is believed to have been deliberately set on fire.

Thirteen people in total were rescued from the building.

Speaking to the Derry Daily, Richard relived the terrifying ordeal.

He said: “Michelle was a getting up with James at around six o’clock when she smelled burning plastic. She went into the living room and saw smoke coming in under the door. She woke me and we put on our clothes as quick as we could. I went to see if we could get out the front door but the hallway was full of black smoke.

“We put ourselves  in the kitchen and put wet towels on our mouths to keep the smoke away. We thought we were stuffed.

‘”The fire brigade came a couple of minutes later and they got James out the window, but we had to wait until they broke the window before they could get us out.”

Richard, who has been living the flat for three years, was speaking after returning from hospital where he had been treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

He said: “They carried out a few tests. I am alright. Everything seems ok. James and Michelle are fine as well. I was the only one taken to hospital.”

Another trapped resident, Laurence Cook, also told how he thought he would not get out of the building.

He said: “I was awoken by the smoke alarm in my flat and initially I thought it was a problem in my flat. When I realised it was not, I opened the door to the communal stairwell but it was filled with thick black smoke.

“I was unable to breathe so I went  back into the flat and went to the window from where I called to a neighbour to get a ladder, but there was none. At one stage I thought I would have to jump.

“I stayed at the window and when the firefighters came about five minutes later, the came into the building wearing breathing apparatus and told me to stay at the window from where I  was eventually rescued by a ladder.”

Fire chief Trevor Russell said the residents of the flats had a “lucky escape.”

He said it appeared the fire may have been started deliberately and said he could not understand the “mindset” of those responsible.

A police forensic team is carrying out an examination of the scene.

 

 

 

FLAT FIRE: “WE THOUGHT WE WERE STUFFED” – SAYS RESCUED FATHER was last modified: November 15th, 2013 by stephen

Tags:
Derryfatherfireflatstuffed
ShareTweet
stephen

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Strabane success in promoting Vibrant Town in...

10 hours ago

New baby monitor units arrive at Altnagelvin...

1 day ago

Build a future in construction on fully...

1 day ago

Durkan: Executive must act now or more...

1 day ago

Police appeal over theft of Mercedes van

1 day ago

Man released over stabbing incident in Derry

1 day ago

Global talent descends on Derry for the...

1 day ago

End to programme developed to tackle skills...

1 day ago

Braidwater Group welcomes £11m funding to unlock...

2 days ago

Portstewart Strand voted best beach in the...

2 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Man charged to court over Derry drugs seizure

    July 6, 2025
  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025
  • Man charged with possessing indecent images of children

    July 4, 2025
  • Two men in court after £1.2m cannabis find near border

    July 3, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy