Man critical after Cork blaze

Three people were forced to leap from the top floor of their third-storey apartment building after a fire broke out in Cork City early this morning.

An Irish man in his mid-30s is in a critical condition in Cork University Hospital (CUH) after it is believed he hit his head on the path after he jumped from the flames.

Three others were rushed to hospital shortly before 1am after the fire ripped through the building on North Mall.

Shocked onlookers gathered as emergency services tackled the blaze and treated those who fled the building in panic. Residents in the area described hearing screams as people rushed to safety.

Eight people were inside the North Mall building when the incident occurred and the fire caused extensive damage to all three floors.

Charred remains of the possessions of people living in the building lay in a heap outside the ground floor this morning.

Each of the front windows were smashed and there was massive damage to both the inside and outside of the building.

Four units of the Cork City Fire Brigade and three ambulances were called to the scene after a fire was reported at 12.30am.

Emergency services arrived at the building within minutes but by that stage the three people had already jumped from the third floor. Firefighters tackled the blaze for almost three hours, returning to their base at 3am.

Gurranabraher gardaí are investigating the cause of the incident and are looking for help in tracing the relatives of the man in a critical condition.

Superintendent Con Cadogan said: “We would ask anyone who may know the man to contact us immediately so we can trace his relatives.”

Anyone with information on the incident or who may know the injured man is asked to contact Gurranabraher garda station immediately on [phone].

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.