Fire Engine Rushes Smoke-Inhalation Victim to Hospital After Tower Block Blaze in Portsmouth
Last night just after 6pm, firefighters scrambled to a 15th-floor blaze at Edgebaston House, a high-rise block in Portsmouth, Hampshire. The fire broke out in a kitchen, leaving a 50-year-old man suffering from smoke inhalation.
Ambulance No-Show Sparks Emergency Response
Despite urgent calls, the South Central Ambulance Service failed to provide an ambulance for over an hour. Fire crews on scene took matters into their own hands, administering oxygen therapy to the man.
“The officer in charge gave up waiting and decided to transport the casualty to QA Hospital using the fire engine,” a source revealed.
NHS Delays Leave Firefighters to Play Paramedics
The dramatic move highlights ongoing ambulance delays at Queen Alexandra Hospital. Firefighters stepped up when the NHS couldn’t, driving the patient themselves to get urgent care.
- Fire broke out in kitchen on 15th floor
- 50-year-old man suffered smoke inhalation
- Ambulance service took over an hour to respond
- Firefighters administered oxygen and transported victim
- Patient taken to QA Hospital directly by fire engine
This incident exposes the mounting crisis in emergency services. When minutes matter, waiting for an ambulance could cost lives.
