A MAN has been left seriously injured after leaping from a third floor window to escape a fire in his flat early this morning.

He suffered burns to his hands and several broken bones as he jumped from Gooding House in Valley Grove, Charlton, and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Police from Plumstead CID were at the four-storey block today, where the upper floor is being treated as a crime scene.

Neighbours said they had been awoken by a loud bang followed by sirens, but were not evacuated from the building.

The fire damaged part of the man’s bedroom.

Watch manager Ray Barwell from East Greenwich fire station was at the scene.

He said: “This was a very serious incident and shows how important it is that people know how they’d get out of their home if there was a fire.

“It will help you to act quickly and could save your life. Everyone who lives in your home should know the escape plan and it helps to go through it with your family or anyone else that lives with you.

“Escaping through windows should always be a last resort, especially for people who live on higher floors.”

The Brigade was called at 3.36am and the fire was under control by 4.26am.

Two fire engines and around ten firefighters from East Greenwich and Woolwich were at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.