Four people remain in hospital after jumping from the top floor of a burning apartment block in Newcastle. The fire broke out on the first floor and scorched three levels of the complex on Parkway Avenue at Cooks Hill.
At 10pm on Tuesday night, emergency service crews were called to the scene. When they arrived, they saw four people jump from the third floor to the ground. A 47-year-old woman and three men aged 43, 50 and 58 were treated for non-life-threatening injuries before being taken to John Hunter Hospital.
Firefighters also removed a 62-year-old man from the second level with smoke inhalation. Newcastle resident Adam Telfer, who was on the second floor when the fire broke out, said he heard someone yell 'fire' and saw a big flame come up the stairway. He escaped with minor grazes.
Fire inspector Andrew Dunkin said jumping from the building was the best option, noting that while the jumpers suffered injuries, it was better than suffering smoke inhalation. He added that the injuries were not life-threatening.
