Video. Man clings onto ledge as building burns in Rome

A young man was forced to escape from his room and seek safety on a cornice when a fire ripped through this building in Rome on Wednesday.

He could be seen holding on for his life on the cornice and was lying dangerously close to flames billowing out from the building's windows.

Crowds gathered below to watch as firefighters worked to remove him. He was eventually lifted out by a crane and although shaken, he escaped without any injuries.