Moment two men rescued from 16th floor window during Bristol tower block blaze

This dramatic footage shows the moment a hero police officer saved two men from a deadly tower block blaze in Bristol - caused by an e-bike.

PC Justin Robbie used his baton to smash a window so the men - who were hanging from a ledge 16 storeys up - could be hauled in.

Emergency services were called to Twinnell House in Easton, Bristol in the early hours of September 25 last year. Investigators have since ruled the fire was caused by an e-bike.

Dad-of-seven Abdul Jabar Oryakhel, 30, died trying to escape and eight other people were injured.

Avon and Somerset police released the bodycam video after PC Robbie was nominated for a bravery award.

He was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene and while his colleagues prevented anyone else from entering the flats, he began climbing the stairs and directing residents to exit the building.

On locating the fire in a 16th floor flat he opened its fire door to check if anyone was still inside only to be knocked back by the smoke and heat.

He then heard shouts for help coming from outside and saw two men hanging from a window ledge.

PC Robbie - who was not wearing safety equipment - and an unnamed firefighter then break through a window before pulling two men in.

The officer did not win the bravery award in London last night, but did meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street.

PC Robbie said: "It is an honour to be recognised with this nomination but, like all officers, we don't do it for the awards.

"I acted on my training and my automatic response kicked in. When everyone is running away from the danger, we run towards it.

"Sadly, one person had already died and all I could think about was 'I need to get in there and make sure no-one else is hurt'.

"I didn't think about my own safety, I just acted and luckily I was able to get to those two men and get them out safely.

"It is fantastic to be able to say I saved someone's life by being there."

Chief constable Sarah Crew said: “Police officers and staff encounter difficult and often harrowing situations on a daily basis and regularly put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect the public.

“However, running into a burning building with the knowledge someone has already tragically died in order to save others is an act of true heroism.

“PC Robbie remained calm in a highly dangerous situation and together with a firefighter worked swiftly and efficiently to rescue two men.

“While someone very sadly lost their life in the fire, had PC Robbie not shown such courage and selflessness the tragedy could have been even worse."

Mr Oryakhel - an Afghan refugee - had been staying with his cousin and was trying to flee when he fell, according to reports.