Man killed as fire breaks out in Gorbals tower block

Published on Wednesday 16 December 2009 08:34

A 61-year-old man has died after fire ripped through a fifth floor flat in Glasgow's Gorbals area.

The man, who has not yet been named, died in the blaze which broke out at 3am this morning in a block of high-rise flats on Waddell Court.

Four other people – two men and two women – were taken to the Victoria Infirmary.

The men were later released but the two women were being treated for severe smoke inhalation.

Another 15 residents were treated by paramedics at a casualty care point at the scene.

More than 40 people had to be rescued from the flats and were taken to safety to nearby Gorbals Leisure Centre.

At 6.30am there were 50 firefighters, including 20 in breathing apparatus, at the scene.

Part of the flat where the fire broke out had collapsed.

Area commander Garry Milne, who was present at the scene, said: "In my 20-plus years in the fire service I have never seen such a fierce fire in a property such as this. Our firefighters were magnificent in the way that they fought their way through intense heat and smoke to tackle the blaze."