Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Breaking News: Patients Flee As Fire Grips Hospital
Sky.com - Firefighters appear to have contained a fire which has ripped through the top floor of a world famous London hospital leaving patients and staff desperately trying to flee the flames.
It is believed some patients, who were undergoing surgery, had to remain in operating theatres and others who were gravely ill had their rooms filled with smoke.
All of the patients and staff have now been taken to safety.
The roof of the Royal Marsden hospital was engulfed in flames with smoke visible for miles around.
Police have closed off all roads leading to the hospital building.
Some patients were laid on mattresses in an ambulance area on a nearby street, with nursing staff in attendance.
Other patients were led to safety, wrapped in blankets, and in wheelchairs.
Dr Toni Burke, who works at the Royal Marsden, told Sky News: "We have been getting all the patients out as fast as we can. Fortunately many had been allowed home for Christmas," she said.
"It's chaos here and we don't know what we'll find when we go back in after the fire's been put out."
London Fire Brigade liaison officer Guy Foster comfirmed that all patients and staff had been evacuated from the building.
The patients were being sent to the nearby Royal Brompton and Chelsea and Westminster hospitals.
Mr Foster said an investigation into the cause of the fire would be launched as soon as it was safe to do so.
Dr Peter Blake, who works at the hospital, said the fire was likely to cause substantial damage.
He said: "Unfortunately the fire is on the wrong side of the building as far as the wind is concerned.
"The roof is falling in, and there are bits falling off on to the outside."
The emergency services were called to the hospital at 1.20pm. At least 25 fire engines and 125 firefighters were battling the flames.
The Royal Marsden was the first hospital in the world dedicated to the study and treatment of cancer.
With The Institute of Cancer Research, it forms the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, seeing more than 40,000 patients from the UK and abroad each year.
It is believed some patients, who were undergoing surgery, had to remain in operating theatres and others who were gravely ill had their rooms filled with smoke.
All of the patients and staff have now been taken to safety.The roof of the Royal Marsden hospital was engulfed in flames with smoke visible for miles around.
Police have closed off all roads leading to the hospital building.
Some patients were laid on mattresses in an ambulance area on a nearby street, with nursing staff in attendance.
Other patients were led to safety, wrapped in blankets, and in wheelchairs.
Dr Toni Burke, who works at the Royal Marsden, told Sky News: "We have been getting all the patients out as fast as we can. Fortunately many had been allowed home for Christmas," she said.
"It's chaos here and we don't know what we'll find when we go back in after the fire's been put out."
London Fire Brigade liaison officer Guy Foster comfirmed that all patients and staff had been evacuated from the building.
The patients were being sent to the nearby Royal Brompton and Chelsea and Westminster hospitals.
Mr Foster said an investigation into the cause of the fire would be launched as soon as it was safe to do so.
Dr Peter Blake, who works at the hospital, said the fire was likely to cause substantial damage.
He said: "Unfortunately the fire is on the wrong side of the building as far as the wind is concerned.
"The roof is falling in, and there are bits falling off on to the outside."
The emergency services were called to the hospital at 1.20pm. At least 25 fire engines and 125 firefighters were battling the flames.
The Royal Marsden was the first hospital in the world dedicated to the study and treatment of cancer.
With The Institute of Cancer Research, it forms the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, seeing more than 40,000 patients from the UK and abroad each year.
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