Firefighters rescue 12 people from lift in Brighton

Firefighters rescued 12 people who were stuck in a lift in a building in Brighton in the early hours of yesterday (Sunday 20 July).

One person was in distress and, after being rescued, was treated with oxygen by South East Coast Ambulance Service paramedics.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said that it received the call just before 12.10am.

The fire service said: “We were called … to an address in Albion Street in Brighton. Twelve people were stuck in a lift and one person was in distress. Crews rescued them and one person was given oxygen therapy.

The rescue was the only incident of any significance in Brighton and Hove during the latest strike in a dispute over pensions by members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

A contingency crew handled the lift rescue while FBU members were on strike between 11pm on Saturday (19 July) and 1am yesterday.

There was another strike yesterday evening between 5pm and 7pm. Two more stoppages are due to take place today – from 6am to 8am and from 5pm to 7pm.