Newtown boarding house: 79-year-old Ronnie describes moment he escaped the flames

Ronnie Serich became international news when he fell out of a second-storey window to escape the Newtown boarding house fire, which he recalls in an exclusive first interview.

The smiling face of Ronnie Serich, beer in hand, blazed across television screens across the world when it was revealed he had fallen from a second-floor window to escape the fiery blaze that engulfed a Newtown boarding house.

The 79-year-old was an occupant of Vajda House, a boarding house in Newtown, when a fellow tenant allegedly used an accelerant to set the house ablaze on March 15. The boarding house was engulfed in flames in minutes, tearing apart the property. Three people died, trapped inside the fire. Richard Hotoran, 45, was charged by police with three counts of murder and one count of destroying property by fire, and is behind bars on remand. He has yet to enter a plea.

Mr Serich fell from his second-floor room, managing to save himself from the heat, but broke his pelvis, fractured his spine and suffered multiple burns across his lower body. He also spent a week in an induced coma.

Proud Rabbitoh supporter Ronnie Serich drinking at the Carlisle Castle, Newtown.

For the first time, and now back on his feet, Mr Serich recalls the moment fire tore apart the boarding house, describing his escape as a “miracle”.

“It was a miracle, wasn’t it,” Mr Serich said.

“The last thing I remember is falling. Next thing I know, I wake up in hospital being spoonfed.”

Mr Serich said, all things considered, he was lucky to escape the burning building with his life.

“I copped it a bit sweet,” he said.

Mr Serich recalled feeling and seeing the flames slowly start to creep into his room as he started to backtrack away to the windowsill.

“There was intense heat at the door, I backed away to the windowsill and then fainted,” he said.

Mr Serich in hospital during his recovery.

“Last thing I remember is fainting, but if I fell forwards – into the room – I would have been cooked roast.”

“When I see it (the building) and remember back, I think how easy I got off in the end, really.

“If I’d fallen a different way I’d have been finished.”

As he fainted, Mr Serich toppled through the window to the ground below, saving his life.

“I don’t remember falling down and didn’t feel much when I finally woke, I think I was pretty sedated,” he said.

The burning Vajda House in Newtown. Picture: NSWFR

Mr Serich was placed in an induced coma and rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he was operated on and woke over a week later. He then spent a further week in the burns ward before being transferred to Balmain Hospital, where he commenced rehab. His legs were given skin grafts and he has to take a clexane injection a day.

“I need to keep moving,” he said.

“If I lie down for too long and just want to scream for someone to help me back up. The nurses though were incredible.”

Mr Serich (centre) celebrates his birthday with Mick Ross (second right) and friends at the Carlisle Castle.

Ronnie’s close friend Mick Ross said when he saw the footage of the fire, he noticed someone’s concern for his mate immediately.

“First thing I heard on footage of the fire was a voice from someone saying: ‘oh God, is Ronnie okay’,” he said.

Some way through rehab, Ronnie is back on his feet, in a new room not too far away from Vajda House and now returns regularly to the Carlisle Castle – the pub he has been a fixture at for years, and who has helped immeasurably with his recovery.

“Every single thing I’m wearing, every single thing I’ve now got, has come from the community,” Mr Serich said.

The fundraiser at the Carlisle Castle hotel for survivors of the fire.

The pub hosted a charity auction on April 2 for survivors of the fire, raising around $15,000 with all proceeds going to the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre for them to divide between the surviving occupants. One of the bartenders, Dallas, washes and drys Mr Serich’s laundry.

“They’ve been brilliant, they’re incredible,” Mr Serich said.

Movements are underway to try and get Mr Serich all the ID that he lost in the fire, with much trouble.

“It’s like he’s the man who never was,” Mr Ross said of his friend.

“If you want to get a birth certificate, you need an ID – which he doesn’t now have – or you need a birth certificate …”

A real-life Superman after his miraculous fall, escape and recovery.

Mr Ross was also quick to praise the work of the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, as well as local pharmacy Ford’s.

“We went in one day to pay for Ronnie’s scripts and they told us not to worry, that it had all been taken care of,” he said.

While he now walks gingerly, and with a stick, Mr Serich said he’s well on the mend – describing the first sip of beer back at the Carlisle Castle after three months recovering as “bliss”.

“I’ve never felt better in my life, to be honest with you!”