SA Police investigate fatal unit fire at Parkside as neighbours recall harrowing details

Neighbours have described the harrowing last moments of a 54-year-old man who was found dead after fire tore through a unit in Adelaide’s inner south.

A man has described the moment he watched his neighbour fall from the upstairs window of his unit as it erupted in flames on Sunday afternoon.

A 54-year-old man was found dead at his Blyth St unit, at Parkside, after it was destroyed by fire just before 4.30pm.

Neighbour Paul Checkley noticed smoke coming from the windows and quickly called triple-0.

“The smoke was just pissing out that window and the fireys just turned up in droves,” Mr Checkley said.

Neighbour Paul Checkley speaks to the media outside the scene of a fatal house fire at Parkside on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Tom Huntley

The scene of a fatal house fire at Parkside on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Tom Huntley

“I was throwing rocks at his window to try and alert him because I wasn’t going in, it was raging.”

He said he later saw the man lying on the ground outside the property.

“I’m not sure whether he jumped out or was dragged out, but I saw him fall from the window and then they put the grey curtain up,” he said.

Paramedics rushed to the scene, but were unable to save the man.

Fire crews at the fatal unit fire at Parkside on Sunday night. Picture: 7NEWS

A man’s body was found inside the unit. Picture: 7NEWS

Fire Cause Investigators are examining the cause of the fatal unit fire. Picture: 7NEWS

Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze before it could spread to any adjoining homes.

Mr Checkley said he was relieved it hadn’t spread to the adjoining properties.

“I’m worried about the old lady that lives next door, they’ve turned off her power obviously because of the fire, but I don’t know where she is,” he said.

Tanzi Kamila lives in a unit block behind the property that caught ablaze and said she was shocked by the amount of smoke coming from the home.

“I was just scared that it was going to blow up or something,” she said.

“I was getting pretty nervous because the smoke was just getting bigger and bigger.”

She said to hear someone had died hit close to home.

“It’s very scary. I just thought it would be a big fire and everyone would be OK,” she said.

Fire Cause Investigators have attended the scene and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.