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Children thrown from burning home Hero neighbours rescue children
(about 7 hours later)
Three young children were thrown from a first-floor window of a burning house in Dundee, after a fire broke out on the ground floor. The neighbours who helped rescue a young Dundee family from an early morning blaze have been praised by firefighters.
A neighbour suffered a suspected broken wrist after catching their mother. They managed to catch the three children, aged one, three and four, who were thrown from the first floor window of the burning house in Balmuir Road.
The 31-year-old and her children, aged one, three and four, had been inside the home in Balmuir Road when the fire broke out just before 0500 GMT. One man, who had lost his own daughter in a fire a decade ago, broke his wrist as he caught the 30-year-old mother.
It is thought a socket converter may have over-heated, spreading fire to nearby clothing. The family dog was also rescued by firefighters and given oxygen.
The family jumped from the upstairs window. The emergency services were called to the house just before 0500 GMT by a man walking his dog.
Tayside Fire and Rescue Service said one of the children had been taken to Ninewells Hospital by a family member. 'Very courageous'
'Very upsetting' It is thought a socket adaptor had overheated and then spread to nearby clothing.
However, the youngster is not believed to be seriously injured. Pauline Fotheringham then had to throw four-year-old Thea-Jean, Rebekkah, aged three, and one-year-old Rhonan out of the top window.
The alarm was raised by someone walking their dog. She then leapt from the window herself and was caught by next door neighbour, Robert Duncan.
Robert Duncan, 57, who lives next door, was injured as he caught the mother when she jumped out. The 56-year-old, whose daughter was killed in a suspicious fire in 1997, broke his wrist during the rescue.
Mr Duncan said: "The kitchen was blown right out, kind of 15/20ft in the air, the flames were coming right out the window.
"The mother was very courageous because she was definitely not leaving the house if the kids weren't safe.
Fire services were called to the home shortly before 0500 GMTFire services were called to the home shortly before 0500 GMT
His own daughter had died in a fire 10 years ago. "I think that all my neighbours deserve a pat on the back for the way they conducted themselves.
His other daughter Nicola said he was in Ninewells Hospital with a fractured wrist. "I was unlucky I got hurt, but I would've lost my arm to save the kid and I'm really proud of my neighbours for the work they did."
Miss Duncan said: "My son tried to kick the door in, but couldn't manage, so him and my dad got the kids to jump out of the window. Martin Tait of Tayside Fire and Rescue said if it had not been for the neighbours' actions the family might not have escaped.
"I'm not sure who caught the children, but my dad caught their mother." He said: "It's a miracle that nobody was injured at all.
She added that the events had brought back painful memories for her family, because of the tragedy in 1997. "They played a huge part in making sure that there was nobody injured."
"It is very upsetting," she said. A smoke alarm had been fitted in the family home but it was not working.
"I'm just glad everyone is all right." Mr Tait said: "This is a stark reminder, go check your smoke alarms today, make sure they're in full working order."
A dog rescued from the house has been taken by police to the PDSA for a check up after receiving oxygen.
Tayside Police and Tayside Fire and Rescue Service have launched a joint investigation.Tayside Police and Tayside Fire and Rescue Service have launched a joint investigation.