PHOTO: OLIVIA ROODT
Juan Roodt (29) narrowly escaped serious injury on Thursday afternoon when his car suddenly went up in flames at his home in Empangeni.
‘It was just the usual daily routine. I had come home for lunch as I always do and when I had left home making my way back to the office, I got a very intense smell of fuel and saw smoke billowing from my bonnet,’ said Roodt.
He then turned back and made his way home to park and inspect his car in the hopes of finding and resolving the problem, but the moment he opened the bonnet the engine compartment was instantly engulfed in flames, as was his arm.
‘He walked into the house saying ‘I’m on fire, I’m burning’ and he was patting his arm trying to kill the flames,’ said his mother, who jumped into action and called the local fire department.
Roodt sought medical attention at a local doctor, but fortunately for him the burns were found not to be serious and the wounds are expected to heal soon.
‘I’m glad I’m alive and it isn’t as bad as it looks. Fortunately I was not in the car,’ said Roodt.
As for his car – it was a total write-off.
