A group of children are lucky to be alive after they were rescued from a fire they ignited while playing at a disused factory in Newry on Tuesday last.
The three youngsters, the youngest of whom is nine years old, were suffering from smoke inhalation when they were rescued by firefighters who were alerted by a member of the public.
A police spokesperson revealed the children may have been just moments from death when they were found hiding in a corner of the factory on Canal Street. The firefighters had to battle their way through dark smoke to locate them.
Details of the incident were contained in a Facebook post by an officer from Newry and Mourne PSNI.
Thanking the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service for its assistance, he said: “The Fire Service Crew Commander at the incident informed me that a member of the public had informed them of three young persons messing about in the grounds of the factory just prior to the fire starting. Fire fighters entered the building where three young persons were hiding in a corner masked by dark smoke. They were safely rescued with only very minor smoke inhalation.”
The officer said the children admitted starting the fire “for a laugh”.
Revealing the gravity of the situation, he added: “A Senior Fire Officer has informed me had these children been located one minute later, these young people would not have survived due to smoke inhalation.”