Disabled mum forced to ditch wheelchair and crawl free from house fire
A disabled mother had to crawl to safety after a huge fire destroyed her home in southeast London.
Juliette Campbell had a narrow escape from flames that engulfed her family’s home in Bromley, London.
The mother-of-two was alone at home when the fire broke out and had to choice but to ‘just crawl’ to save herself.
The fire, which destroyed the chair, is believed to have started by a lighter accidentally, possibly after it was left too close to combustible items.
Ms Campbell, who relies on the wheelchair and her daughter as her main carer, has a functional neurological disorder.
She described the moment the fire earlier this month made her survival instincts to kick in: ‘I had to abandon my wheelchair and just crawl.
‘Once I got over the threshold, I was screaming for help.
‘Thankfully, people passing by came to help.’
Initially, she thought the blaring fire alarms going off were caused by burning incense sticks, but when the flames began ripping through the property she made her desperate escape.
The London Fire Brigade was alerted to the incident at about 12.30pm, but it took four engines and 25 firefighters around to hours to get the blaze under control.
Station Commander Daniel Capon said the conditions of the job were ‘challenging.’
It destroyed the ground floor of the home and severely damaged the first floor.
The family are hoping to move into a rental property soon to rebuild their lives while their home is repaired.
They have lived in a Travelodge since the frightening ordeal, and the family have to replace most of their belongings.
Ms Campbell praised the community for its support.
Help has poured in after a friend of her daughter’s set up a GoFundMe page.
She said: ‘I am grateful to some kind strangers who helped me, as well as my daughter,” Ms Campbell said.
‘My daughter is my caregiver, and she continued to provide the same care for me at the hotel.’
The mum also thanked the firefighters who used oxygen equipment to save the family’s cat Sage.
She added: ‘I’ve managed to hold it together so far.
‘The kindness of strangers has been amazing.
‘People have been incredibly generous, and that’s kept me going.’
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