A man has spoken of the terrifying moment he fell from the roof while trying to save his family from a devastating Aberystwyth hotel fire which left one man dead.

Richard Simnett had been staying at Ty Belgrave on the seafront with his partner and his four and five-year-old sons when the fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday, 25 July.

In their desperate bid to escape the blaze after being awoken by the fire alarm, Richard and his sons made it onto the roof, but his partner was unable to reach them.

“She was terrified so I went to help her, but I lost my footing. I could feel myself sliding and I grabbed the guttering but it gave way and I fell," he said.

“I remember hitting something before hitting the ground. I’ve since found out it was some railings which broke lots of bones but, I’m told, saved my life.”

Despite suffering breaks to his back, sternum, right arm, right collar bone, seven ribs and damaging his knee, Richard managed to stand up and alert police to his family’s location.

Richard was taken to Bronglais Hospital before being airlifted to Cardiff.

He was in intensive care and endured operations on his back and arm before being allowed home, but is still in a brace.

See this week’s Aberystwyth paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now