Dad and disabled three-year-old son's terror after high rise tower block fire

31 December 2023 , 16:10

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Locals neighbouring the residential tower block also came out to see what was happening as emergency services filled the cul-de-sac with flashing blue lights

A man has spoken about his terrifying experience of being caught up in a tower block fire in Birmingham with his three-year-old disabled son.

Dad Russell Farrell heard a bang before seeing thick smoke billowing from the letterbox of his neighbour's eighth floor flat at just after 9pm on December 30. After alerting fire crews to Manderville House in Birmingham, he was told by firefighters to shut himself away in the flat with his toddler and wait for an update.

Locals neighbouring the residential tower block also came out to see what was happening as emergency services filled the cul-de-sac with flashing blue lights. Police were also at the scene. Russell explained that he went to investigate after he "noticed someone kicking the door of where the fire was." He said: "That's when the sprinklers and fire alarm went off and I noticed smoke coming from the letter box. I alerted the emergency services and they arrived within about three minutes.

"It was scary to know the fire was on my floor as I've got a disabled son. We were told by the emergency services to stay indoors there on the eighth floor whilst they put the fire out. My son is only three and was frightened by all the commotion going on. I didn't know how bad the fire was or what was going to happen."

Manderville House in Walnut Way, Turves Green, Birmingham

Emergency services at the scene

He added: "The emergency services contained the fire pretty quickly and will always be grateful to them. I'm just glad that I was able to notice it before any real damage was done and anyone got hurt. Everyone in the block was OK and no harm came to anyone but it could have been a lot worse."

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Resident Katie Costello was in the neighbouring tower block and said she suddenly heard a lot of sirens and noise. She said: "I heard a lot of commotion and watched from the window. There were easily over 30 emergency vehicles out there. Some people started to come out the blocks to find out what was going on. Never in my 12 years [here] have I seen anything like it. Hope everyone involved is safe and sound."

A fire spokesperson said: "There was a fire at Manderville House on the eighth floor. It was a small fire and fire crews were there for around two and a half hours. No-one was injured." West Midlands Police has been contacted for comment.

Alison Brinkworth