A desperate attempt to save a mother trapped inside a burning house ended in tragedy after an iron grille prevented her son from getting inside.
Raja Muhammad Syukri Raja Ahmad, 30, managed only to reach his mother’s hand from outside the upper-floor balcony as the fire engulfed the house in Taman Desa Tambun.
His father, Raja Ahmad Raja Ali, 70, and nephew, Nik Abdurrahman Azimin Harith Helal, 18, also died in the fire.
Raja Ikhwan Hadi Raja Ahmad, 47, who witnessed the incident, said he realised something was wrong after hearing someone calling for help while he was sleeping outside the house.
“I woke up and went outside. At first, I thought it was the neighbour’s house because they were always playing around. When I looked up, I saw that it was my house that was on fire.
“I went back inside and, when I opened the door, I saw flames near the stairs. I could hear my mother and nephew upstairs, while the fire was already raging and smoke had filled the staircase,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Ikhwan said he told his nephew to wait while he tried to find a way to help, but the flames prevented him from entering.
“I managed to tell him, ‘Wait, wait a minute. Wait for Pak Long.’ He wanted to go in but then came back out.
“I opened the tap and thought I could put out the fire, but the hose was too short and could not reach. There was nothing I could do,” he said.
Raja Muhammad Syukri then tried to reach his mother from the rear balcony, but the iron grille prevented him from entering the house.
Despite this, he managed to reach and hold his mother’s hand in an attempt to help her escape downstairs.
“He tried to help control the fire so Mum could go downstairs, but the flames had blocked the way to the kitchen.
“I’m used to doing carpentry work and climbing, but this time I could not get inside because of the grille,” Ikhwan said.
Meanwhile, Nik Abdurrahman’s father, Helal Zamri, 37, said he only learnt about the tragedy at about 5.30am after receiving a phone call while he was at his home in Manjoi.
He said his son had lived with his grandparents since he was a child and the family remained close.
“My son would always come with me when I was doing catering work, and the last time we met was last week.
“I accept God’s will regarding the passing of my son and both of my in-laws,” he said.
Earlier, it was reported that an elderly couple and their grandson died after being trapped in a fire that destroyed their two-storey terrace house at Taman Desa Tambun early Sunday morning.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Sayani Saidon said the department received an emergency call about the fire at 17 Persiaran Desa Tambun 4 at 4am.
