Man rescued from Mayfair flat fire by passer-by

A man was rescued by a passer-by through a window from a blazing block of flats in Mayfair.

He was helped down a ladder from the first floor of the building in Bourdon Street, west London.

Jacqui Alexander, who lives above the flat where the fire broke out, said: "He had to be rescued.

"He couldn't get out, they had to use the window. He had a few cuts.

"A passer-by saved his life by putting up a ladder and getting him through the window."

She added: "I saw plumes of smoke coming up through my hall.

"I just felt terror. I grabbed my keys and I got out. And I ran down into the street.

"When I got down I just thought 'thank God, it's your life'."

Eight fire engines and 58 firefighters were called to the block of flats on Tuesday morning.

Half of a flat on the first floor and part of a flat on the second floor were alight, London Fire Brigade said.

"One man was rescued from the first floor by a member of the public before the brigade arrived," a spokesman added.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

London Ambulance Service said one man was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and another was taken to hospital.