A devastating fire broke out at a residential complex in Phoenix, north of Durban, last Tuesday morning, claiming the lives of three family members. The blaze started in the lounge and quickly filled the flat with smoke, trapping the occupants inside. Neighbours, alerted to the fire, risked their lives to rescue the family.
Brave neighbours, including Camy Paul, 41, and Nishal Sudhoo, 42, broke into the burning flat to rescue the family. They first tried to pry open the lounge window with their hands but were unsuccessful. Sudhoo then tied a rope to the front gate and secured it to his van's bull bar, but it didn't move. He eventually used a crowbar to pry open the gate, allowing the neighbours to enter the flat.
Once inside, the neighbours found it difficult to see or breathe due to the thick smoke. Ashley Copichunder and Sudhoo covered their faces with whatever they could find and ran back into the flat, carrying out four family members. Vivian Paul, 61, witnessed Copichunder emerge with two-year-old Nurah Shabally, who sadly succumbed to smoke inhalation despite neighbour Camy's attempts to administer CPR.
Camy Paul, who had training in emergency rescue as a cabin-crew member, performed CPR on Nurah but stopped when she realised the toddler was no longer alive. Nurah's uncle, Mohamed Abdaal Hoosen, 40, also died at the scene from smoke inhalation. His wife, Nasreen Desai, died four days later. The child's parents were hospitalised, and her grandparents were not at home at the time of the fire.
The neighbours' heroic efforts were commended by Dallas Danielsen, the eThekwini Municipality Fire Division commander. He praised the residents for breaking through the security gates and retrieving the people trapped inside. Firefighters also entered the smoke-logged flat and continued the rescue efforts, finding a resident trapped inside.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, with Danielsen suspecting it was an "electric fire" based on the pattern of the blaze. Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, said an inquest docket was opened. The community is mourning the loss of three family members, including little Nurah, known for her sweet smile and joyful personality.
The family, who lived in the complex, had a close-knit relationship with their neighbours. Nurah's father, Kaabir Mohamed, recalled finishing work at 9 pm and playing with his daughter before going to bed. He remembered waking up to find the house on fire and feeling the burn on his face and hands. The incident has left the community in shock, with many still trying to come to terms with the tragic events.
Key points
- Neighbours rescued a family from a burning flat in Phoenix, South Africa, but three family members died from smoke inhalation.
- The cause of the fire is suspected to be an electric fire, but an investigation is ongoing.
- The community has come together to mourn the loss of three family members, including two-year-old Nurah Shabally.
