A person has been airlifted to Southampton General Hospital in a life-threatening condition after being pulled out of a building by firefighters in Bembridge tonight (Thursday).
Fire crews from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue were mobilised to Crossway at 20:43 following reports of a property fire within a block of flats.
The first crews on scene – from Sandown and Shanklin – were met with smoke billowing from a top floor property. Entry was swiftly gained and firefighters pulled 1 person from the burning building before commencing CPR.
Further resources from Newport, Ryde and Cowes were deployed to the scene alongside multiple crews from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
Having successfully resuscitated the casualty, emergency teams transferred the individual by land ambulance to Bembridge Airport where Coastguard Rescue 175 had landed.
The individual has since been airlifted to Southampton General Hospital in a life-threatening condition.
Emergency teams are standing down from the incident but cordons are expected to remain in place overnight and into tomorrow morning.
Those displaced by the fire have been cared for at the nearby Bembridge Fire Station. The British Red Cross Emergency Fire Support Vehicle has turned out to support those involved.
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance was also scrambled to the incident but was stood down whilst overhead.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is expected to take place.
British Red Cross emergency response team also there
I pray that the person pulls through. Well done to Sandown and Ryde crews of the Fire Service. The many redundancies over the years that has reduced the numbers of the Fire personnel, probably added to the issue why Bembridge Fire pump could not turn out.
Bembridge doesn’t have an engine anymore, more cuts to come no doubt now our Fire Brigade is run from the mainland, plenty of managers I expect though?
What absolutely FANTASTIC work our emergency crews do. Thank you so much each and everyone of you.
Hope the person makes a full recovery.
What a fantastic job all our emergency services do
They certainly do
Hope the the casualty is OK.
Thoughts are with family and friends at this awful worrying time.
Well done to all our Emergency Service’s..
And all those that rallied to assist the other occupants.