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Friends reunited after horror blaze at Sheerness flats left them on the brink of death

Kirsty Sawyer, Paul Miles and Craig Monahan are reunited after being injured in the arson attack
Kirsty Sawyer, Paul Miles and Craig Monahan are reunited after being injured in the arson attack

Three friends who feared they would die when they were trapped at the top of a block of flats during an arson attack have been reunited.

Morrisons worker Kirsty Sawyer and Craig Monahan were visiting pal Paul Miles who lived in the Glass House building in Marine Parade, Sheerness.

They were playing a video game when the huge blaze was started.

Kirsty, 19, managed to get onto the ledge - but passed out and fell.

She was released from hospital last Tuesday – and immediately arranged to visit 25-year-old Paul, who at the time was still in Royal London Hospital.

A fireball erupts from the building at the height of the blaze
A fireball erupts from the building at the height of the blaze

Craig also went and it was the first time the trio had all been together since the horror.

Paul suffered three broken ribs, a broken sternum, punctured lung which led to a collapsed lung, three pelvis fractures and internal bleeding, but was released from hospital on Monday.

He is staying with his parents in Sheerness while his bones heal, but is not sure what will happen after that.

"It's great being back and surrounded by family," he said. "I'd like to thank my parents and family for coming and seeing me everyday and the nurses at the hospital for doing a great job.

"It's a bit mental to think I managed to get home just two weeks after the fire and being so close to death."

Kirsty, who was badly burnt in the blaze, has spoken about the reunion.

She said: "Getting together was amazing. Paul wasn't expecting me so it was a shock and it got quite emotional.

"The three of us sat holding hands, talking about the fire, how we are doing now and how lucky we are.

"I'm feeling a lot better in my mind mentally now I''m home.

"Physically it still really hurts but it's going to, given the circumstances. I'm taking it quite well – I think the pain reminds me I'm alive – and that's all that matters."

Flames visible from a large house fire in Sheerness
Flames visible from a large house fire in Sheerness

The teenager has also been reunited with Minster resident Duncan Berrisford, who sat with her after she fell.

He and his wife Marie went to visit her at home in Hartlip Close, Sheerness, and they talked about what happened and how they thought it was a chimney fire at first.

They saw Kirsty fall and hit each ledge. Duncan tried to catch her, but could not quite get there in time.

An aerial photo reveals the damage to a block of flats in Sheerness after a huge fire
An aerial photo reveals the damage to a block of flats in Sheerness after a huge fire

She said: "It was lovely to finally meet Duncan. He said as I hit the sandbag he put his face into his hands and thought to himself 'Oh God. She's dead', but he heard a whimper and said he couldn't have got over to my side any quicker.

"He kept talking to me, kept me awake and alive until I was airlifted.

"It was hard for my mum to hear Duncan's side of what happened; she said it was like filling in the blanks."

Kirsty - who has worked at Morrisons in Mill Way, Sittingbourne, since January - is still waiting to find out if she will need surgery on her back and thumb.


Police have issued another appeal for witnesses and anyone who took video footage of the fire, at about 3.25pm on Monday, June 24.

An investigation, led by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, is on-going.

Three 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy, all from Sheerness, have been arrested on suspicion of arson and bailed.

Anyone who can help is asked to phone police on 01622 654850 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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