SIBU, March 9: Fast action by a woman saved the life of a 7-year-old boy from being burnt to death, as his family home in Taman Sanhill caught fire this morning.
The woman, Vanessa Julia, 40, was alerted by the loud scream of the boy calling for help when the fire broke out. Without any second thought, she rushed to the aid of the boy.
At that time, the house gate was not locked. She saw smoke billowing from inside the house and ran in to grab the boy out to safety.
It was understood that the victim suffered 1 per cent burns on his body. The boy is a Year 1 pupil studying in the afternoon session.
At the time of the fire, the parents of the boy had already gone out to work, leaving him alone at the house. They usually pick him up and send him to school before noon.
Sibu Fire and Rescue chief, Janggan Muling, said they received a distress call at 10.06am concerning the fire and dispatched seven firefighters to the scene.
“Firefighters were quick enough in putting out the fire from the double-storey house. The fire had destroyed 60 per cent of the house,” he said, while adding that the cause of fire is being investigated.
Sibu district police chief, ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit, confirmed that at the time of the fire, the boy was alone in the house.
“His parents had gone out to work,” he said.
He advised parents not to leave their children at home without anyone supervising them. — DayakDaily
