Worker tells of daring escape
Worker tells of daring descent to safety from burning high-rise building
Dubai: Fearing for his life, one worker took the situation into his own hands to escape the burning building with a daring survival stunt fit for Hollywood.
From his hospital bed Pakistani Jaber Hussain, 38, a mason working for Rapid Supply, told Gulf News how, upon waking up engulfed in smoke, he made his way down a dozen storeys in smoky chaos before sliding the remaining 15 storeys on an elevator wire to the ground floor.
Hussain was on the 27th floor when the fire broke out.
"At 12:00 it is rest time and I was asleep.
"When I woke up at 1pm there was fire and smoke and everyone was running around and didn't know what to do or where to go. We went to the balcony area but there was smoke there too," he recalled.
"The foreman told us to go down the stairs. There was so much smoke and it was so dark that many people fell down the stairs. I had someone holding on to my shirt all along. I looked back to see who it was and was shocked to find about 10 to 15 people all looking at me. They looked so scared. Asking them to form a train, I led them down the stairs. As we were going down the stairs I kept assuring them that there is nothing to worry and we shall all survive. I told them to hang on to their faith," said Jaber who came to the UAE a fortnight ago on a visit visa with the hope of finding employment.
Jaber said that respite came only when he reached the 15th floor.
"A window that was kept open on that floor allowed us to breathe freely for the first time. We were unable to recognise each other as we were covered with soot. The floor was well lit because of an electric bulb that was left on by the workers.
"I saw some wires hanging past the window. I then asked all who were with me to get ready to go down the wires. Only two agreed while the rest refused and decided to wait there for the police to come and rescue them. Without wasting much time I helped the two workers go down the wires.
"I followed them soon after," said Hussain who suffered injuries to his leg. Luckily he managed to cover his hands and only had a few blisters.
He said he is not nervous about going back to work but only has one wish that some workers be trained for emergency situations.
