As the news broke around the world -
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Firefighter Ewan Williamson, a Scottish firefighter with Lothian and Borders, died today after a floor collapsed in an intense fire at a pub. Firefighters worked the blaze for over an hour prior to bringing it under control.
MORE than 20 people rescued from a tenement building as a major blaze ripped through a pub owe their lives to the bravery of a firefighter who died at the scene.
A FIREMAN died a hero yesterday, helping to save terrified residents as a blaze ripped through a block of flats.
Ewan Williamson, 35, was killed and one of his colleagues was injured after a floor inside the building collapsed as they tackled the blaze.
Around 70 firefighters were sent to the Balmoral bar in Dalry Road, Edinburgh, after the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning.
As the fire raged, residents above whose homes faced the building's back garden had to get on to their window ledges and try to breathe through thick smoke before climbing down ladders carried by firefighters. Residents whose homes faced on to Dalry Road were rescued by turntable ladder.
Wearing breathing apparatus, the two men had gone into a ground-floor pub in Edinburgh in the early hours after a fire broke out at closing time.
It is believed the floor gave way underneath them. Ewan plunged into the basement and is thought to have been killed by the fall.
His colleague's breathing gear was knocked off. He was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and was later released.
More than 20 people, including a baby, had to be rescued by ladder from the tenement block.
Mr Williamson's family paid tribute to him in a statement issued through the fire service.
They said: "This has come as a horrific shock to the family. Ewan was a wonderful, kind, sporty and outgoing person who was loved by everyone.
"He loved the Fire Service. We would ask that the public remember members of the service who risk their lives every day."
Mr Williamson is survived by his mother Linda, sisters Becky and Rachel, and his doting girlfriend Lynsey who earlier left a photograph of them together at the scene.
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It was accompanied by a hand-written message which read: “Ewan, what am I going to do without you. “My hero. Did you have to be everyone elses! Love you forever babe.
“You better look out for me. Yours Lynsey.”
We can ever be so humbled for your life to save others, to those closest to you, colleagues and your brothers and sisters in the fire service throughout the world you will always be remembered. EWAN WILLIAMSON 1974-2009
To read and leave a memorial please click here (this will open in another window)
Video made up of clips and pictures in the public domain - no copyright intended in any way - credits to DeadlinenewsTV, BBC, ITN - this video is not being used for profit and should stand as a fitting tribute to a HERO!
