The ITV breakfast programme showed footage of the man, named as L P Bonifacio, desperately waving what looked like a white cloth and calling for help yesterday as they covered the devastating event. He could also be seen periodically on his phone, presumably in touch with the emergency services.
When Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan informed anxious viewers that Bonifacio had disappeared and had been absent for a number of minutes, people waited ever since for news on his fate.
Many woke up this morning to the presenters revealing that Bonifacio had been rescued shortly after midday, as a picture depicting him being carried off by a number of firefighters had surfaced.
However, as Bonifacio, in his 70s, was trapped in his flat for a staggering 12 hours after the fire began, he is understood to still be seriously ill in hospital.
Bonifacio’s son Gordon posted to social media yesterday, saying: “He’s not out of the woods yet due to serious smoke inhalation. We’re currently by his side in intensive care.”
Piers Morgan, who was replaced by Ben Shephard on the show today, shared the good news on Twitter, when he said: “He’s alive! Fantastic news. Brilliant job, @LondonFire telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/1… @GMB”
Many viewers also posted their relief. One said: “Just saw him on GMB being carried out, so happy to see he’s ok, made me cry with relief, some good news out of such tragedy.”
“This is fantastic news. Praying for him to make a full recovery. We watched him beat the odds…. this is not his time to go,” another posted gratefully.
After many worried that they would watch the man perish on live TV yesterday, there was also a great deal of relief. One viewer admitted: “Excellent news they just showed it I was slightly worried we were watching the poor chap die at the time.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6.30am on ITV.
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