Dramatic moment man saved from ledge of burning Los Angeles apartment block after fire broke out

Firefighters rescued a man clinging to the ledge of a burning apartment block in Los Angeles after he appeared ready to jump.

Some 15 people also had to be saved from the roof of the 25-storey building in Brentwood by helicopter.

The fire department’s deputy chief Armando Hogan said firefighters were able to convince the man to stay put before saving him.

“So no one jumped,” deputy chief Hogan said. The 30-year-old was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

A firefighter on a ladder rescuing a man who climbed out on the side of a 25-story high-rise apartment (AP)

Seven residents, including a three-month-old girl, were taken to hospital. Two firefighters were also treated for minor burns.

The burnt out apartment block in Los Angeles (AP)

Cecile Mathieson, who fled down a stairwell from the 25th floor, said: “I’m pushing people out of the way praying, ‘God let me live.’ I didn’t know if I was going to live. There were so many people ...

“I really thought I was going to die today.”