A teenage boy has tragically died in a flat blaze that broke out next to a fire station in south London.
Four fire engines and around 25 emergency personnel tackled the inferno on the first floor of a six-storey building in Cooper’s Road, Southwark, beside Old Kent Road fire station.
Crews from other areas were called in as one of the engines from the Old Kent Road station was responding to another incident at the time.
One teenage boy made it out before firefighters arrived and was taken to hospital, while another died at the scene, the London Fire Brigade confirmed.
The first emergency call was received shortly before 3pm, where crews from Dockhead, Dowgate, Shadwell and Whitechapel arrived at the scene, and the blaze was under control just after 4.30pm.
A 64 meter turntable ladder appliance from Old Kent Road fire station was on the scene within six minutes of the call, a spokesman for the force said.
The spokesman added: “Another appliance from Old Kent Road was out at a different incident but did return to the scene of the incident later.”
The cause is being investigated by the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police, but is believed to be non-suspicious.
The victim’s family are being supported by specialist officers.
The condition of the boy who survived the blaze reportedly left him with “serious facial injuries” after he managed to escape the fire.
Residents nearby told The Sun how the boy had screamed “my friend is still in there” as the fire tore through the flat.
One resident described the boy shouting someone was still in the building, swaying side to side as though he was losing consciousness.
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Emergency service responders were reportedly witnessed pouring cold water on the boy, who was “coming out in blisters”.
The 16-year-old who died is understood to have been visiting his friend at the time, and did not live in the property.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “At around 15:00hrs on Wednesday, 18 March, police responded to reports of a fire at a residential address in Coopers Road, Southwark.
“Officers attended with the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service. A 16-year-old boy was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“His next-of-kin are being supported by specially trained officers.
“Another boy, also aged 16, was treated for serious facial injuries. He was taken to hospital, where we await an update on his condition.
“The circumstances of the fire remain under investigation, although at this stage the incident is believed to be non-suspicious”.