A teenage girl fractured her spine after she was forced to jump 14ft from a bedroom window to flee a terrifying house fire.
Morgan MacKenzie became trapped in her bedroom when a candle sparked an upstairs blaze at her home in Kirkhill, in the Highlands, on August 3. The 16-year-old had climbed out of her bedroom window to escape the flames, but was forced to jump after the fire quickly took hold.
She was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, where she is receiving treatment for fractures to her spine and burns across her body.
Bravery praised
Morgan's grandmother, Liz, praised the teenager for her bravery. The 67-year-old told the Record: "Morgan was trapped after a candle set jackets and dressing gowns on fire that were hanging on a door upstairs."
"She tried to throw the burning clothes out of the window but in doing so the whole place caught fire. It went up within seconds and she couldn't get past the door."
"She climbed out the window and tried to hang onto the ledge until help arrived. The neighbours tried to get a ladder but the flames were already burning her. She was very brave. She had to let go of the ledge to try and escape."
Aftermath and response
Shocking photographs show the smouldering aftermath of Morgan's bedroom window at the property on Albany Place. Three fire appliances and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene after the alarm was raised at 8.40pm.
Morgan's dad Willie and her two brothers have been moved into temporary accommodation while she recovers in hospital. The family home has been gutted by the blaze - leaving the single dad and three kids with nothing. It is unclear when the family will be allowed to return home.
Emotional and financial impact
Liz added: "Morgan is expected to make a full physical recovery. However, no young person should ever have to experience something so terrifying, and the emotional trauma she has suffered will undoubtedly take time to heal."
"To make matters worse they have lost everything in the fire. It's either been burnt or damaged by the smoke. The house is going to need to be repaired and it's going to cost thousands."
Pals have clubbed together to start a fundraiser for the stricken family of four to help them get back on their feet. Family friend Kat Stewart, who launched the fundraiser, said: "Within a matter of minutes, the home they loved and everything they owned was destroyed. While we're incredibly grateful that no lives were lost, the family has been left with nothing but the clothes they escaped in."
"Willie is a devoted single father who has always worked hard to provide a loving and secure home for his children. But he now faces the unimaginable reality of having to rebuild their lives from the ground up while supporting his child through one of the most traumatic experiences she will ever endure."
"We're asking for kindness and generosity to help Willie and his family begin again. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will go towards replacing essential clothing, food, toiletries, temporary accommodation, school items, household necessities, and helping them rebuild their lives after this devastating loss."
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 8.53pm on Monday, 3 August, to reports of a house on fire at Albany Place, Kirkhill. Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances, and firefighters extinguished a fire affecting a two-storey property. One casualty was in the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service, and crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe."
