Dramatic footage shows trapped victim screaming ‘let me out’ before jumping several metres to safety as flames engulf four-storey property
This is the jaw-dropping moment a quick-thinking lorry driver became an unlikely hero – using his truck as an emergency escape route for a desperate man trapped in a burning building.
Dramatic footage captured the heart-stopping rescue in Dublin’s Granby Row yesterday morning, as thick black smoke billowed from the four-storey property while a terrified victim screamed for help from his window.
The hero trucker, behind the wheel of a Eurospar delivery lorry, didn’t hesitate – reversing his massive vehicle right up to the inferno to create a makeshift safety platform for the trapped man to jump onto.
‘Let me out!’ – Victim’s desperate screams
The terrifying ordeal unfolded at 8.13am as flames ripped through the building, located above the Golden Thai Antique Massage parlour.
Horrified passersby gathered on the street below, watching helplessly as the trapped man appeared at his window, frantically screaming “let me out” as smoke poured from the building behind him.
With fire crews still racing to the scene and no ladder in sight, the situation looked hopeless – until the Eurospar lorry rumbled into view.
Leap of faith through the smoke
Mobile phone footage shows the delivery truck pulling up to the burning building, hazard lights flashing as the driver expertly reverses as close as possible to the wall.
The trapped man, wearing a black hoodie and trousers, faced an agonising decision – stay put and risk being overcome by smoke, or take a terrifying leap of faith.
As smoke engulfed his window, he chose to jump.
The moment of impact
Heart-in-mouth footage captures the victim launching himself several metres through the air, disappearing momentarily into the thick smoke before emerging above the lorry.
An audible THUD echoes through the street as he crashes onto the trailer’s roof – but miraculously lands safely, saved by the trucker’s split-second thinking.
Cheers erupted from the crowd below as the man, though clearly shaken, had escaped the inferno thanks to his unlikely saviour.
Race against time
Dublin Fire Brigade crews arrived minutes later to find the third floor fully ablaze, with six fire engines, a turntable ladder and emergency tender rushing to tackle the inferno.
Breathing apparatus teams stormed the building to search for any other victims while battling to bring the flames under control.
In total, seven people required treatment at the scene, with three rushed to hospital – though thanks to the lorry driver’s heroics, the toll could have been far worse.
Building gutted by flames
Shocking pictures taken after firefighters extinguished the blaze revealed the true extent of the devastation – the building had been completely gutted, with charred walls and blown-out windows testament to the ferocity of the fire.
The third floor, where the fire originated, was left a blackened shell.
A Dublin Fire Brigade spokesperson confirmed: “Firefighters found a four storey building with a fire located on the third floor. Breathing apparatus teams were committed to fight and extinguish the fire and it is now under control.”
Hero of the hour
While the identity of the quick-thinking lorry driver hasn’t been revealed, his actions have been hailed as nothing short of heroic by witnesses and emergency services alike.
One bystander who filmed the rescue said: “Fair play to that driver – he didn’t think twice about it. Just backed up and saved that man’s life.
The dramatic rescue serves as a reminder that heroes come in all forms – sometimes wearing high-vis vests and driving delivery trucks rather than capes.
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, one thing is certain: without that Eurospar lorry arriving at exactly the right moment, this story could have had a very different ending.
The message is clear – not all heroes wear uniforms. Some just deliver groceries and happen to be in the right place at the right time with nerves of steel and a very large truck.
