Cleaners suffer burns in a locked building
These men were were found lying on the pavement surrounded by a crowd of people.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Two young men were fortunate to escape looming fire after they forcefully bent a steel burglary door to save their lives, in the morning of Monday May 4.
The fire is alleged to have started when the two men were cleaning a carpet with petrol in the Rosettenville building in Verona Road, Johannesburg South.
Residents initially mistaken the incident for a xenophobic attack as the burnt men were seen surrounded by a crowded of people. Investigations quickly showed that the men were not under any attack, in fact the same people who crowded the building could have helped to bend the steel burglary door so the men could escape with their lives.
A petrol attendant from a nearby garage said they believed that the two used a back entrance to enter the building, but could not use it to safely escape as the fire had swiftly blocked the way, forcing them to run to the other other door.
Paramedics from the ER24 Johannesburg South branch, as well as fire services, arrived on scene and found the small flat well ablaze, and Fire services began fighting the fire while paramedics assessed the two patients.
One of the man had sustained severe burns over his whole body and was in a critical condition. The second man had sustained minor to moderate burn injuries over both of his arms.
Once treated, both patients were transported by ambulance to Baragwanath Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Local authorities were on scene for further investigations.
