Rome, May 02: At least five people suffered from smoke inhalation in the fire that started at around 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) in a room on the third floor. The names of the three killed were not immediately released. Schalken and his wife helped four American elderly tourist to seek refugee in his roof but the whole group then decided to climb to the roof from which they were rescued by Roddick. "It was pretty dangerous what we did -- but in a kind of panic you do that," the Dutch admitted.

Smoke was still billowing from the five-star hotel in the early morning, although firefighters said they had put out the blaze that quickly spread through the third and fourth floors. German player Tommy Haas had a lucky escape as he crossed with other guests trying to ran away from the inferno.


"As soon as I opened my door I saw an older family, just yelling and screaming trying to find the exit, they couldn't find it, then went back out, they said they were going to the balcony to wait there, to get some air. For some reason, I just kind of move my way to the elevator door, got to the stairway and just went down to the lobby and waited there."


Dozens of pyjama-clad guests fled into the streets in the wealthy Parioli district of Rome, near the Villa Borghese, as fire and smoke engulfed guests' rooms. All the guests were evacuated to other hotels in the city.


Bureau Report