Police officers at the scene of the fire in Rotherfield Street

A MAN was killed after his home near Essex Road went up in flames this week, leaving neighbours in shock after they watched firefighters’ attempts to save his life.

Rescue crews were in Rotherfield Street after responding to reports of a fire in the ground floor of a block of flats during the early hours of Tuesday.

Stephen Groves, who lives nearby and saw the brigade on the scene, said: “I was woken up by the lights from the fire engines. I looked out the window and I saw the fire. About 10 minutes later, I saw them pull him out, put him on the pavement and start doing chest compressions.”

He added: “It’s so sad. All I hope is that he didn’t suffer. I’ve only lived around here since March last year, so I didn’t know him that well. I spoke to him, said hello. He kept himself to himself, like everybody.”

The man has not been named by the emergency services, but it has been confirmed that a 67-year-old man had died at the scene. Four fire engines and 25 firefighters from Islington, Shoreditch and Euston fire stations attended the scene.

“Apparently they called him the bird man because he used to come out and feed the birds a lot,” said Mr Groves. “He used to open his window, and I think he used to put the bread in his hand and stick it out on the window sill. I used to think ‘that’s weird’, but he’s not doing no harm – that’s his enjoyment.”

Amiah Chin, a video game developer and life-long Islington resident, said she was “relieved” that her loved ones were unharmed in a flat two floors above.

“My family lives in the flat and I stay there for weeks at a time sometimes,” she said. “But, on Monday, they went on holiday so no one was there. My little brother stays there and he has serious asthma, and my dog stays there as well, but thank God they weren’t there last night.”

Ms Chin’s family moved into the flat three years ago.

“My dad’s friend who lives in the flats across the street called him and said, ‘Hey, your building’s on fire’ and it was like 3am,” she said. “Then my dad called me and I walked all the way over here, so I missed the fire. When I first arrived they said there’s no way anyone could come in because the smoke was too much.

“There’s no damage done to our flat, but it’s covered in soot. My parents are so relieved – they’re just happy that my brother wasn’t there.”

The Tribune also heard reports that fires had been lit on the grounds of the estate before and residents had contacted the council over the problem but no action had been taken. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

Islington’s housing chief, Councillor Una O’Halloran, said: “We were extremely saddened by the death of a man in Rotherfield Street this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends, family, neighbours, and all who knew him.”

She added: “The London Fire Brigade is leading the investigation into this tragic incident, and the council is working closely with them.”

Police and the fire brigade spoke to residents on Tuesday, with fire officers checking the safety of some homes.

“I had the police round this morning asking if I’d seen anything, and I had the fire brigade, checking out my smoke alarms and everything. As it happens, I had the gas checked two weeks ago, so they changed the smoke alarms and everything in my house,” said Mr Groves.

Another man was taken to hospital from the scene of the fire. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

A police spokesperson said: “A 67-year-old man was removed from one of the flats by firefighters. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene a short time later. His next of kin have been informed.”