Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Man in pub fire rescue dies of injuries

Cahal Milmo
Thursday 04 September 2003 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A plumber who battled through flames to save two children in an arson attack that killed two half-brothers died yesterday from his injuries after six weeks in intensive care.

Ronnie Springer, 35, suffered burns to more than half his body when he fought his way up two flights of stairs into the bedroom in a north London pub where the children were sleeping during a family gathering.

He helped to lower the youngsters to rescuers below but then had to jump from a second-floor window in the Prince of Wales pub in Stoke Newington, suffering further serious injuries when he hit the ground.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "Sadly Mr Springer's injuries were extremely serious and he has not survived. We know from the firefighters who attended the scene that he saved those children by placing himself in extreme danger."

The self-employed plumber, who died at 1.30am, had been kept under sedation at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in central London since the attack. He never regained consciousness.

The fire has left detectives with few leads as to why a business that had been owned by the same family for at least 30 years was a target.

Police believe the fire was started by setting light to an accelerant squirted at the entrance to the family living quarters above the pub bar at about 5am on 27 July.

Within minutes the flames had spread to the upper levels of the pub, spreading thick black smoke throughout the three-storey building. Charlie Knight, the five-year-old-son of the landlords, Kevin and Kate Knight, and Charlie's 10-year-old half-brother, Christopher, died from the effects of smoke inhalation and multiple burns.

Mr Springer, who lived in Hackney, east London, was among those attending the party. He ran upstairs to bring the children down only to find himself trapped. A taxi driver passing the scene described how he helped Mr Springer, who was a brother-in-law of Mrs Knight, to throw two girls - Denise Worell, 11, the daughter of Mr Knight from a previous relationship, and Vicki Chaundi, eight, a niece of Mrs Knight - to safety.

Daniel Tewolde, 37, an Eritrean refugee, said: "[Mr Springer] was holding a little girl in pyjamas. Her face was blackened and she was coughing and screaming, 'Mummy, help'. The ... man said he was afraid to drop her so far. I climbed on top of a table, he dropped her and I caught her in my arms. A few seconds later he was holding another girl. I caught her and laid her down."

Vicki and Joe Knight, the three-year-old brother of Charlie, who was also in the pub, remain in intensive care at a specialist burns unit in Chelmsford, Essex.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in