Horrific hotel blaze traumatises Littlehampton couple

Adrian and Carol Wales this week told of the moment that they thought they were about to die when a devastating fire ripped through the exclusive Harbour Grand hotel, in Hong Kong, in the early hours of the morning.

The couple, of Mantling Road, were just starting the third day of their 17-day trip to China and Borneo, to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, when the fire caught on the 38th floor of the hotel – just seven floors above their luxury room.

Adrian was horrified when he discovered the blaze raging above their apartment, at about 3am.

The 48-year-old train driver said: “I woke up because I heard this odd sound – it was like a load of milk bottles clanging together.

“I looked out of my bedroom window and saw the flames blazing above. It was terrifying.

“I grabbed Carol and rushed out into the corridor. My mind was on auto-pilot. We had to get out.”

However, to the couple’s horror, none of the emergency fire alarm systems on their floor had been triggered, despite black smoke quickly beginning to fill the corridor.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Adrian. “No-one on our floor knew anything was going on.”

Terrified, he began banging on people’s doors to warn them of the impending danger.

Hundreds of people began to flood out of their rooms and into the emergency staircase, but many were slowed down by tables and chairs that partially blocked the stairwell.

“It was at this point that I thought we were going to die,” recounted father-of-two Adrian. “I just said to myself, ‘this is it, it’s all over’.

“I’m never going to see my children or grandchildren again.”

About 500 guests from the 828-room hotel were evacuated into the street below, as debris from the burning building crashed down into the road.

The fire spread to the third floor terrace after flaming pieces of molten metal and plastic dropped from the 41-storey high complex.

Adrian said people began to panic amid fears that the high-rise was about to collapse.

“It was like 9/11. We thought the building could come down at any second and we were trapped.

“There were 15ft panels crashing down on the street in front of us, so we couldn’t get out that way.

“A group of about 30 people rushed towards a fenced-off building site, next to us, and broke through the door to get away from the fire.

“Then we all just stood there and watched it burn,” Adrian said.

The blaze raged for about six hours before fire and rescue teams from the city managed to get it under control.

It is believed to have been caused after one of the LCD advertising screens, on the top floor of the hotel, overheated and caught fire.

Miraculously, only one person needed hospital treatment.

However, Adrian and Carol, who returned from their trip, on Saturday (May 5), said they have been left “permanently traumatised” by the whole experience.

“It’s like a form of post-traumatic stress,” said Adrian. “While we were in Borneo, my wife heard a bang, at a building site nearby.

“She was in tears. I’ve broken down at times, too. It ruined our wedding anniversary celebration.”