A Phoenix house fire has claimed the lives of two siblings leaving their mother in mourning.
Image: KZN VIP Protection Services
A mother is mourning the deaths of her son and daughter who were killed in a house fire in Phoenix on Sunday morning.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that two siblings, aged 30 and 34, died in a house fire while they were sleeping at a house in Clayfield in Phoenix on Sunday morning.
Netshiunda said reports indicate that their mother was praying outside her double-storied house and when she was done, she noticed smoke coming out of the home. The fire spread so rapidly that the two siblings who were sleeping could not be rescued.
“Initial investigations have confirmed that the fire started in the kitchen and although the deceased had burn wounds, the cause of death was suspected to be smoke inhalation,” Netshiunda said.
“Police in Phoenix have registered two counts of inquest.”
A Phoenix house fire has claimed the lives of two siblings leaving their mother in mourning.
Image: KZN VIP Protection Services
KZN VIP Protection Services spokesperson Gareth Naidoo said a devastating fire broke out in a residential house after a cellphone reportedly exploded, igniting a sofa which quickly spread throughout the inside of the house.
Naidoo said efforts to evacuate the premises were hampered as thick smoke filled the building.
He said the female sibling was believed to be trapped in one of the rooms, while the male sibling was confined to the bathroom.
“In an attempt to escape the smoke and flames, KZN VIP and community members broke the windows, but efforts to extricate the victims were unsuccessful due to the intensity of the flames and accumulated smoke,” Naidoo said.
“Firefighters conducted a thorough sweep of the property, and the first victim, a female, was pulled from the building. However, despite immediate CPR attempts by KZN VIP Medics, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene, having suffered third-degree burns.
“The second victim, a male, was also extricated from the building and received CPR, but tragically, the attempts were unsuccessful, and the victim succumbed to his injuries,” Naidoo continued.
He said community members and KZN VIP response officers assisted in efforts to control the fire. A hosepipe and wet sand were used to try to contain the fire’s spread. Although ladders were employed to attempt entry into the building, the extreme danger posed by the fire prevented this due to the risk of further casualties.
“The tragic loss of life underscores the importance of fire safety awareness and the potential dangers of everyday electronics,” Naidoo added.
A Phoenix house fire has claimed the lives of two siblings leaving their mother in mourning.
Image: KZN VIP Protection Services
IFP councillor Jonathan Annipen expressed his condolences to the family and community of the deceased.
“Our thoughts are with the mum who lost both her children and our prayers travel to all those who are directly impacted by this colossal loss,” Annipen said
A woman was left critically burnt after allegedly igniting a fire in a confined space.
Image: Midlands EMS
Meanwhile, Midland EMS Advanced Life Support paramedics, along with Midlands EMS K9 Rescue Medics and a local ambulance service, were dispatched to the scene after reports of a person suffering severe burns in the Lions River area, KZN Midlands.
“Upon arrival, emergency crews found a critically injured patient who had sustained extensive burns after igniting a fire in a confined space,” Midlands EMS spokesperson Roland Robertson said.
“Given the severity of the patient’s condition, Midlands EMS paramedics initiated immediate advanced life support treatment to stabilise the individual.”
Robertson said the woman was airlifted to a Level 1 trauma hospital due to the severity of the burns and the need for urgent specialized care.
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za
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