THE BLAZING HOTEL AND THE RESCUE!

The scene was like a movie set out of Hollywood, the hotel ablaze with colourful flames and thick black smoke protruding from the ground and first floor windows to the front of the building. Firemen kneeling equipped with hose's struggling to contain the ferocious l flames as they sprayed water towards the hotel. By standers holding their breath and mingling about disbelieving with what they were witnessing. Waiting for news of friends and loved ones who had been staying at the hotel. The police struggling to contain the ever growing crowd of locals, tourists, newspaper and TV reporters. A number of police and firemen fully equipped with gas masks and oxygen tanks making there way to the entrance of the hotel, the same entrance I was thrown out of only this morning.

As they entered the building they passed a number of injured people coming out looking distraught, crying, screaming covered in blood grasping for air. What a fright to be woken by an inferno. They were treated immediately by the many medics that had arrived within minutes of the alarm being raised.

Thankfully it was a clear night, no wind for the flames to encroach further afield and as I stumbled to the side of the building to get away from the crowd, I heard a faint cry for help, I turned to my left and looked up towards the direction of the cry, I saw a silhouette of a figure on the third floor of the hotel. It was a women, on her balcony, screaming for help as the black thick smoke surrounded her from behind her.

She was alone, no help, so I decided, still under the influence of champagne from the party, to act as her saviour. I climbed the 6ft brick wall surrounding that part of the hotel, fell to the ground on the other side and climbed up a drainpipe which was conveniently situated almost next to all the balconies on that side of the building. One hell of a fire exit I thought, sprung to mine. I managed to pull myself up so that I was level with the balcony which was on my left. I was about 2ft away and approximately 30ft above ground level, so with one almighty push I managed to swing ferociously and with one hand grabbed the bottom rail of the balcony and then followed with my other hand. I pulled myself up and over the rail and tried to calm the women who was hysterical as the flames were coming right behind her and now me.

As the flames were getting stronger and the smoke thicker, I wasted no time in telling her, never caught her name, to jump on my back and hold as tight as she could. Thankfully she was of a petite size. We jumped the balcony rail, I grabbed the drainpipe and we almost fell to the ground as we ascending down the drainpipe, which was now hanging by a thread to the hotel wall. But we were safe and unhurt. She was in tears, tears of joy and as she hugged me I escorted her to the medics so they could treat her.

I checked my back pockets and thankfully still had my passport with me, as this was the only piece of identity I had as my belongings were still in the hostel. No money no belongings. But having my passport on me at this time proved to be my downfall.

So with that act of heroism, feeling proud and brave, and with no where to go, I decided rather stupidly to enter the burning hotel and see who else I could save. So without thinking of the repercussions, I began my journey towards the blazing building and the scenes that followed will live with me forever.