This is the dramatic moment a resident in Rome escaped from a fire in his apartment by clinging to the side of the building yesterday (May 22).

Footage captured by the Colwill family from Australia shows the man lying on a ledge outside the building on Via Niso as flames engulf the apartment on the fourth floor.

The man remained on the ledge for half an hour before firefighters arrived at the scene.

Further footage shows crews extinguishing the fire before using a crane to take the man safely to the ground.

Terry Colwill, a 44-year-old IT consultant for the Australian federal government who was visiting Rome as a tourist, said: ''We were having dinner after being part of the papal audience in the morning and visiting sites in Rome in the afternoon when we spot the fire in the opposite building.

"We are holidaying in Italy and were in an opposite apartment and heard an explosion and saw the fire and him. We don’t know yet how it started, it looked like the kitchen where the main fire was.

''Everyone was in shock.''

The footage was captured by Colwill's 14-year-old son Dylan.

Eventually, the firefighters managed to bring the fire under control. No one was injured, according to local media reports.

Video taken by mobile phone at 7.00pm 22 May 2019 of a fire in a Rome Italy apartment block.

Occupant of apartment flees 4th floor of building through balcony and clings to side of building.

The man was rescued by fireman shortly after and treated for smoke inhalation and shock. Fire was extinguished but severely damaged surrounding apartments. No other person was known to be injured.

We are holidaying in Italy and were in an opposite apartment and heard an explosion and saw the fire and him. We don’t know yet how it started, it looked like the kitchen where the main fire was.

This happened on Via Niso Rome Italy. Started filming at Wednesday 6.58 pm 22 May 2019.