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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Angel' saved Briton in Thai fire | 'Angel' saved Briton in Thai fire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British survivor of the New Year's Eve nightclub fire in Bangkok says an "angel" dragged him to safety after he was overcome with smoke. | A British survivor of the New Year's Eve nightclub fire in Bangkok says an "angel" dragged him to safety after he was overcome with smoke. |
| Londoner Alex Wargacki, 29, said he blacked out before feeling himself being dragged to an exit. | Londoner Alex Wargacki, 29, said he blacked out before feeling himself being dragged to an exit. |
| Mr Wargacki and Briton Oliver Smart remain in intensive care after the fire in the Santika Club killed 61 people. | Mr Wargacki and Briton Oliver Smart remain in intensive care after the fire in the Santika Club killed 61 people. |
| Cardiff aircraft technician Steven Hall, 35, and a fourth British victim, Adam Butler, 26, are also in hospital. | Cardiff aircraft technician Steven Hall, 35, and a fourth British victim, Adam Butler, 26, are also in hospital. |
| Police said the fire may have been caused by sparks from a stage display. | Police said the fire may have been caused by sparks from a stage display. |
| They said most of the victims died from suffocation, but some were also killed in a stampede as people tried to leave the club. More than 200 were injured. | They said most of the victims died from suffocation, but some were also killed in a stampede as people tried to leave the club. More than 200 were injured. |
| 'Horrified' | |
| Speaking from Bangkok's private Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Mr Wargacki told reporters: "I felt myself going unconscious. I knew something was happening to my lungs. I could not breathe. I blacked out and fell to the floor. | Speaking from Bangkok's private Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Mr Wargacki told reporters: "I felt myself going unconscious. I knew something was happening to my lungs. I could not breathe. I blacked out and fell to the floor. |
| "I woke up and heard this voice saying. 'Come on. Come on this way'. Then I felt myself being dragged towards an exit. | "I woke up and heard this voice saying. 'Come on. Come on this way'. Then I felt myself being dragged towards an exit. |
| "Had it not been for this voice with the hand of an angel I would not be alive today." | "Had it not been for this voice with the hand of an angel I would not be alive today." |
| Oliver Smart, 35, is believed to be recovering on a ventilator | |
| The foreign exchange trader, who has lived in Bangkok for four years, suffered burns and smoke inhalation and is on a respirator to help him breathe. | The foreign exchange trader, who has lived in Bangkok for four years, suffered burns and smoke inhalation and is on a respirator to help him breathe. |
| He said: "When I get out I'm going to see if I can find the person who pulled me out of there. I think he was a fireman, but I'm not sure. I'd like to thank him." | He said: "When I get out I'm going to see if I can find the person who pulled me out of there. I think he was a fireman, but I'm not sure. I'd like to thank him." |
| Mr Smart's father George, from Oxspring near Barnsley, said he has been unable to contact his son but understood he had a collapsed lung caused by smoke inhalation and severe burns. | |
| He added that he had no idea how he escaped the blaze or if he was helped to safety and was waiting for more information from the Foreign Office. | |
| "Yesterday was an awful day... seeing the pictures, it must have been awful for anyone involved," he said. | |
| "The not knowing made it even worse." | |
| His son was a medical association manager overseas on an extended Christmas break, Mr Smart said. | |
| Mr Hall said some partygoers seemed to think the flames were part of the show, and stopped to watch. | Mr Hall said some partygoers seemed to think the flames were part of the show, and stopped to watch. |
| He said: "All of a sudden I saw flames billowing from the top of the stage, then along the ceiling. | He said: "All of a sudden I saw flames billowing from the top of the stage, then along the ceiling. |
| "Then everybody converged towards the exit from the balconies, down the stairs area, and from the dance floor. It was a bit like a stampede. | "Then everybody converged towards the exit from the balconies, down the stairs area, and from the dance floor. It was a bit like a stampede. |
| Steven Hall on how he escaped the fire | |
| "It did take a few moments to realise what was going on, because it seemed as though it was part of the performance. | "It did take a few moments to realise what was going on, because it seemed as though it was part of the performance. |
| "But looking at the performers on stage, looking at the embers and what looked like sparks falling down on to the stage, they looked totally horrified." | "But looking at the performers on stage, looking at the embers and what looked like sparks falling down on to the stage, they looked totally horrified." |
| Mr Butler, of Birmingham, told the Telegraph: "There was a pyrotechnic that launched off the stage where a band was playing. | Mr Butler, of Birmingham, told the Telegraph: "There was a pyrotechnic that launched off the stage where a band was playing. |
| "For five seconds no-one took it seriously and when everyone realised it was serious there was nowhere to run. By then the flames were already above our heads. | "For five seconds no-one took it seriously and when everyone realised it was serious there was nowhere to run. By then the flames were already above our heads. |
| "I was trampled but I managed to get back to my feet." | "I was trampled but I managed to get back to my feet." |
| Dozens of corpses wrapped in white sheets were laid out in front of the burnt-out club. | Dozens of corpses wrapped in white sheets were laid out in front of the burnt-out club. |
| A Thai forensics expert said it could take a week to identify nearly 30 of the most badly disfigured bodies. | A Thai forensics expert said it could take a week to identify nearly 30 of the most badly disfigured bodies. |
| Bangkok officials said at least 35 foreigners were among the injured, including people from Australia, Belgium, France, Japan, South Korea and the United States. | Bangkok officials said at least 35 foreigners were among the injured, including people from Australia, Belgium, France, Japan, South Korea and the United States. |
| A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said embassy staff on the ground are providing consular assistance to the British nationals involved. | A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said embassy staff on the ground are providing consular assistance to the British nationals involved. |