Islington News: Fire | Tudor Court | King Henry's Walk | Rodrigo Carrillo

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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 31 October 2008

The severity of the blaze that claimed the life of restaurant worker Rodrigo Carrillo

Man dies as fire rips through block of flats

‘People were calling out for help’

A RESTAURANT worker died and his flatmate jumped 40ft to safety after a huge blaze broke out in a block of flats.
Fire engines rushed to the scene as families fled to escape the fire at Tudor Court, King Henry’s Walk in Canonbury early on Tuesday morning.
Rodrigo Carrillo, 28, was killed in the blaze, which broke out in the second floor flat he sublet with two friends. One of his flatmates broke his leg after jumping off the balcony to safety, while another climbed across to his neighbour’s balcony and escaped through their home.
It is believed all three occupants worked in a restaurant together. The block is managed by Homes for Islington but Mr Carrillo and his flatmates were subletting from a landlord.
Next door neighbour Olivier Gbe Zoude, a father-of-three, braved the flames to escape along the narrow balcony, past the burning flat, with his
partner and sons aged one, three and 15.
Mr Gbe Zoude said: “We were sleeping, then around 6.30am we heard some people screaming. One was calling for help. By the time we went out everything was on fire. I removed all the curtains from our windows to stop the fire spreading. We had to go through the flames. We didn’t even think about putting blankets over us. It was terrible.”
He added: “One of the guys couldn’t get through the flames in the flat. He came to my balcony and through my flat but he was scared to go past the flames. I told him to go, there’s no alternative.”
Mr Gbe Zoude said his family would have been trapped if they had woken up any later. He is now calling for a fire escape to be installed on his end of the building.
Another neighbour said the block was full of families with children, adding: “Someone I don’t know came round banging on the doors to get everyone out. When we got out the fire was already over the balcony. One good thing to come out of this is that the Fire Service are coming round fitting smoke alarms.”
Six fire engines and about 30 firefighters attended the blaze just after 6am, bringing it under control after nearly an hour and a half. Mr Carillo was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
An Islington Police spokeswoman said: “We await results from London Fire Brigade as to whether the fire is suspicious or not.”
A Homes for Islington spokesman said: “HFI carry out regular inspections on estates including inspecting fire safety measures. Our general advice to residents is to remain in their property unless directly affected by the fire or until evacuated by the emergency services. If any residents are concerned or have questions about fire safety we are happy to talk to them.”

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