Heroic bystanders save staff from fire at famous restaurant known as the 'home of the Birmingham Balti'
This is the dramatic moment hero passers-by helped rescue staff from a fire at a famous curry house - by smashing windows with rocks to aid their escape.
Shocking footage shows smoke billowing from Shababs - known as the "home of the Birmingham Balti" - after a fryer caught fire at the restaurant on Sunday morning (22/6).
One man jumped from the first floor window to flee the flames and was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation and burns at around 11.10am.
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Four other people were treated at the scene, which is one of the city's last remaining original restaurants that created the iconic balti dish 38 years ago.
Witnesses said members of the public hurled rocks to smash the windows before another bystander grabbed a ladder to help save the life of the worker.
West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service sent three fire engines to the scene in Birmingham's 'Balti Triangle' and found the premises "significantly smoke-logged".
A fire service spokesperson said: "Shortly after 11.10am on Sunday 22 June, we responded to Ladypool Road, Birmingham.
"Three fire engines responded, crewed by firefighters from Ladywood, Highgate and Hay Mills stations.
"The first crew arrived at the scene within two minutes of being mobilised.
"This was a fire, believed to have started accidentally, in a two-storey commercial premises used as a restaurant. Both floors were significantly smoke-logged.
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.
"One person was helped to safety by members of the public from the building before we arrived.
"They are believed to have been conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital after presenting symptoms of smoke inhalation.
"Four members of the public were checked by paramedics for smoke inhalation and were all discharged at the scene.
"The final fire crew left this incident at 2.25pm, with police colleagues still in attendance."
Shababs first opened its doors in 1987 and is one of Birmingham’s most well-known Balti Triangle restaurants.
It recently featured on BBC2 in April when Michael Portillo paid a visit and gets regular visits from YouTubers as well as hosting celebrities such as the Hairy Bikers and Joe Lycett.