Man dies in Gauteng flat fire

A man, believed to be in his 50s, died after being severely burned when a fire broke out in his flat at the Victoria and Leslie roads intersection in Vereeniging in Gauteng on Saturday afternoon, paramedics said.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene shortly after 1pm and found that the fire in the flat had already been extinguished. Paramedics found the man lying next to his bed, ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring said.

Upon assessment, paramedics found that the man had sustained serious burn injuries and was in a critical condition. Paramedics treated the man and provided him with several advanced life support interventions. Once treated, he was transported to a nearby hospital for further urgent treatment.

“Unfortunately, after a short time in hospital, the man finally succumbed to his injuries. It is understood that a member of the community had managed to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire is not yet known but local authorities were on the scene to investigate further,” Meiring said.