Woman 'jumps from balcony' to escape Gateshead flats fire as residents evacuated

Woman 'jumps from balcony' to escape Gateshead flats fire as residents evacuated The woman, who is in her 20s, was taken to hospital after the blaze broke out at the Ochre Yards flats in Gateshead shortly after 12.30pm on Sunday A woman reportedly jumped from her balcony to escape a fire at a block of flats, suffering injuries as she fled the flames. The woman, who is in her 20s, was taken to hospital after the blaze broke out at the Ochre Yards flats on Worsdell Drive, in Gateshead shortly after 12.30pm on Sunday (October 25). Emergency services rushed to the scene on the south bank of the River Tyne, where firefighters tackled the blaze and residents were evacuated from neighbouring properties as a precaution. Northumbria Police confirmed the woman had sustained injuries, including a suspected broken ankle, which are not believed to be life-threatening. A spokesperson for the force said: "Just after 12.30pm today (Sunday), we received a report of concern for the safety of a person in Gateshead. It was reported that woman had jumped from a balcony after a fire had broken out within an address on Worsdell Drive, The Chronicle reported. "Emergency services attended and extinguished the fire. A woman, aged in her 20s, was found to have sustained injuries not believed to be life-threatening, including a suspected broken ankle. She was taken to hospital for treatment. "A number of residents were also evacuated from neighbouring properties as a precautionary measure. Enquiries are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire. However, at this early stage, it is not being treated as malicious." Images from the scene showed extensive smoke damage to the flats, smashed windows and destroyed furniture, while a cordon was put in place as emergency services dealt with the incident. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) deployed four fire engines, an aerial ladder platform and two officers to tackle the blaze. The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) also sent two ambulance crews, two hazardous area response team (HART) crews and a clinical team leader to the scene. An NEAS spokesperson said: "We were called by the fire service just after 12.30pm today (25 October) for a fire at an apartment block on Worsdell Drive in Gateshead. "We dispatched two ambulance crews, two hazardous area response team (HART) crews and a clinical team leader to the scene. We treated two patients, one for smoke inhalation and another for an ankle injury, before taking them into hospital." Police enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing.