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Sittingbourne Morrisons worker Kirsty Sawyer lucky to be alive after falling from blazing flat in Sheerness

Fire victim Kirsty Sawyer beams in her hospital bed
Fire victim Kirsty Sawyer beams in her hospital bed

A teenager has spoken of the terrifying moment she fell from a fourth-floor window as she tried to escape a massive fire.

Supermarket worker Kirsty Sawyer thought she was going to die as she cowered - trapped and unable to breathe - in the burning building in Sheerness.

The 19-year-old was visiting friend Paul Miles at his flat, in the former Glass House in Marine Parade, when it was targeted by arsonists last Monday afternoon.

A fireball erupts from the building at the height of the blaze
A fireball erupts from the building at the height of the blaze

As the building was engulfed in flames, desperate Kirsty became trapped on a window ledge in a bid to gasp clean air.

She passed out because of fumes and fell to the ground where - incredibly luckily - she landed on sandbags.

Kirsty, of Hartlip Close, Sheerness, suffered horrific burns, but has impressed doctors with her positive attitude and recovery that she was due to return home yesterday.

Kirsty, Paul and another pal, Craig Monahan, were playing a video game when the fire broke out and they encountered a "waterfall of pure black smoke".

Trapped by flames and thick smoke, the trio were huddled by a window.

Kirsty said: "It was pitch black - I couldn't see or breathe. All I could do was push myself as far out of the window as I could in an attempt to get some clean air. We were trapped and forced out by the fire.

"I managed to clamber out onto the ledge and Craig climbed out the window and across to the next ledge.

"He was telling me to hold and on and we'll be OK. His face was covered in soot - it was so surreal. I thought we were going to die."

A man is rescued from the blazing flats in Sheerness
A man is rescued from the blazing flats in Sheerness
A man is brought down by ladder from the top floor of the blazing building
A man is brought down by ladder from the top floor of the blazing building

As she looked down, Kirsty saw a man fall from below.

She later found out it was Paul, who had climbed out of a skylight and tried to climb down to the flat below but lost his footing.

Kirsty, who works at Morrison's in Sittingbourne, then passed out from the fumes and fell to the ground where she landed on sandbags.

The former Isle of Sheppey Academy pupil was kept awake by passer-by Duncan Berrisofrd until the emergency services arrived.

She had her clothes removed and was put on a stretcher as there were fears the chimney breast could collapse.

Kind-hearted Kirsty after a head-shave to raise money for an alopecia charity in May
Kind-hearted Kirsty after a head-shave to raise money for an alopecia charity in May
Kirsty Sawyer and Paul Miles, who both escaped a fire, shaved their heads for an alopecia charity
Kirsty Sawyer and Paul Miles, who both escaped a fire, shaved their heads for an alopecia charity

Kirsty was airlifted to King's College Hospital in London, but has now been transferred to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

She suffered severe burns to her hands and back as well other burns to her ears and elsewhere.

She is also working to get her lungs back to normal and has been on a nebuliser.

Walking is difficult as she landed on her front and hit her toes as well as the top of her foot on the concrete next to the sandbag.

Paul is at another hospital after having pins in his pelvis and suffering a broken leg and punctured lung.

A close-up of the blazing building
A close-up of the blazing building

Three 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old arrested in connection with the blaze have been released on police bail pending further inquires.

For the full interview, pick up a copy of the Sheerness Times Guardian - out today.

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