Man escapes fire to tell sad story
ALEXANDRA - A man who was saved from burning to death in his room has returned home after treatment to tell his pitiful life story.
A man who was saved from burning to death in his room has returned home after treatment to tell his pitiful life story.
Gideon Moruswi of 8th Avenue was treated at the Alexandra clinic for burn wounds to the hands and thigh after neighbours helped to extinguish a fire that almost destroyed his room.
Moruswi said the fire was ignited by a candle tipping over and igniting paper, plastic and other flammable material after he had dozed off. The material had been pilled up in his room for years leaving him very little space to manoeuvre.
He said the material was for his recycling business and kept in the room for safety, together with family property after the death of his parents in 2003, and a brother who was murdered in 2004. His murdered brother was found with body parts missing and his case was reported in Alex News.
Moruswi said since the deaths his life had been a nightmare.
“Their deaths affected my emotional wellness, the hearing in my right ear, and made me ultra-religious. Most times I spend the entire night awake and brooding over my life and the family tragedy. This near death experience is an omen to be exorcised,” he said.
His problems were compounded after doctors at the clinic told him he had a heart ailment. He is also unable to look after his two daughters. “I have just reunited with my two daughters aged 15 and 19, but I can’t care for them as I am unemployed and the recycling business is unprofitable.”
Moruswi wants to turn his life around and with the help of neighbours, relatives and ward committee members, he is in the process of clearing all the items in his room for disposal. “I want to disassociate myself with the past which hasn’t been good to me, and appeal for support to stabilise my emotional state, for household material support and also assistance for my school-going children,” he said.
The local councillor and department of housing were aware of his plight, but have not informed him of any specific assistance they would provide.
Details: Walter Mojapelo; 011 443 7408
