Family escapes death from Abu Dhabi building on fire

  DUBAI - A thick blanket of smoke had already filled the fire exit of an Abu Dhabi building on fire as the eight-member John family made their way down. With them was an elderly couple: a paralysed Indian man, 84, and his wife, 74. Saju George John recounted the "terrifying moment" as his family and parents fled the fire in a new residential complex in the Navy Gate area in the capital on Saturday. The fire broke out late at night, and the building elevators had shut down. John said that as they fumbled their way down the staircase, his thumb got caught in his father's wheelchair, causing the elderly man to fall down the stairs. John's mother also had trouble breathing due to the thick smoke and had to sit down. With heavy smoke reducing visibility in the cramped space and making it difficult for them to breathe, he thought they were headed for the worse. Fortunately, the civil defence team heard their cries for help and rushed to their rescue. They were immediately carried to safety, John said. He said the "losses would've been terrible" if not for the timely intervention of rescuers. The family was admitted to the Khalifa Hospital for treatment. They were reported to be in good condition. Doctors also said the elderly John did not sustain internal injuries from his fall. Authorities said the building was evacuated and there were no reports of injuries or casualties. An investigation is underway to find out the cause of the blaze. GAD/Expat Media 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