Dramatic escapes of nightclub survivors

BRITISH survivors of a horrific New Year’s Eve inferno in a Bangkok nightclub spoke yesterday of their incredible escapes.

At least 61 people were killed and more than 200 were injured, four of them Britons, in the stampede to flee the blaze which broke out at the Santika Club just after midnight.

Alex Wargacki, 29, from London, was recovering in intensive care at Bangkok’s private Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital last night.

The British foreign exchange trader, who suffered burns and smoke inhalation during the panicked evacuation of the building, said he was lucky to be alive.

He was pulled from the burning club by an unknown rescuer after collapsing as he tried to escape. He is now on a respirator to help him breathe.

Mr Wargacki, who has lived in Bangkok for four years, told The Times: “I was actually unconscious. I was trying to get out the door, but there was black smoke everywhere, then I went down.

Steven Hall, from South Wales, described the dramatic scenes as the fire spread from the stage to take hold of the club.

Some revellers appeared to think the flames were part of the show and hesitated to escape, he said.

Mr Hall told CNN: “All of a sudden I saw flames billowing from the top of the stage, then along the ceiling. Then everybody converged towards the exit from the balconies, down the stairs area, and from the dance floor. It was a bit like a stampede.

“It did take a few moments to realise what was going on, because it seemed as though it was part of the performance.

“But looking at the performers on stage, looking at the embers and what looked like sparks falling down on to the stage, they looked totally horrified.”