Two firefighters plunge hand-in-hand to their deaths from blazing Shanghai tower block
Two young firemen lose their lives in horrifying fall from 13th storey of Shanghai residential block as witnesses look on
PUBLISHED : Friday, 02 May, 2014, 11:36am
UPDATED : Friday, 02 May, 2014, 12:47pm
Staff reporter
Qian Lingyun and Liu Jie hold onto each other as they plummet to the ground. Screenshot via Weibo
This is the horrifying moment two firefighters plunged 13 storeys to their deaths while battling a blaze at a residential building in Shanghai’s Xuhui district.
The picture was captured by a resident of a neighbouring block as smoke poured from the building.
Qian Lingyun and Liu Jie, aged 23 and 20 respectively, were blown through a window in the structure by an explosion while engaged in rescue efforts, media reports said. The pair had been working with the fire service since December 2012.
Witnesses were shocked by the tragic fall. Screenshot via Weibo
The fire broke out at 2pm on Longwu Road on Thursday and emergency services responded to control the flames.
Witnesses at the scene said the colleagues had held hands as they fell onto a platform on the building’s second floor.
Two two firefighters who lost their lives. Photo: Xinhua
Both were taken to hospital, but later died of their injuries
Another fireman was sent to hospital for treatment, reports said.
