Double tragedy for Malvern family
The neighbours of a Malvern woman who died in a house fire last night say they were woken by the screams of her four children.
Their mother was killed in the blaze just hours after their father died in hospital following a medical condition.
Rescue Care's Ceron Lennox says firefighters began searching the home once they had doused the flames. She says the woman was found lying near the bathroom.
"They cut the bathroom window and pulled the lady through but unfortunately she had already succumbed to her injuries. There were four children that were in the house between the ages of two and 10, they got out of the house and went to go call for help. Non of the kids were injured," she said.
The children have since been moved into their care of their grandmother in Umlazi.
This morning, neighbours were helping clear what was left of the gutted home in Lewis Byron Road.
A neighbour says they saw the woman try get out of one of the rooms, but the roof caved in.
"They are traumatised because the little ones were still trying to get over their dad and as far as they were concerned their mom was still alive. She was trying to come out. When we spoke to them late last night they did not know their mom had passed away, they were thinking she was watching their house burn down," she said.
Two of the children were treated for smoke inhalation.
It is still unclear what sparked the blaze.
#MalvernFire The father of the four allegedly died earlier due to illness in the hospital. pic.twitter.com/0wjWfxFMSZ
— Nushera Raisa (@nushera) June 22, 2017
This morning, neighbours were helping clear what was left of the gutted home in Lewis Byron Road.
A neighbour says they saw the woman try get out of one of the rooms, but the roof caved in.
"They are traumatised because the little ones were still trying to get over their dad and as far as they were concerned their mom was still alive. She was trying to come out. When we spoke to them late last night they did not know their mom had passed away, they were thinking she was watching their house burn down," she said.
Two of the children were treated for smoke inhalation.
It is still unclear what sparked the blaze.
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