Kimberley - An elderly woman has been hospitalised after being dragged out of her burning shack by her son.
While Colville resident, Henry Cassiem, said on Thursday that he was grateful to have been able to rescue his mother, Catherine, 67, from the shack they shared, he was still concerned after she was readmitted to Kimberley Hospital on Thursday morning.
At the scene of the fire, Cassiem told the DFA that his mother had been home alone shortly before 8pm on Wednesday night, when a candle was knocked over and set her bedding alight.
“I was not far from home and when I got there the whole place was in flames and my mom was still inside,” Cassiem said.
“I ran in to get her and by the time we got her out, her dress and her ‘doek’ (head scarf) were already on fire. We ripped them off.”
He said that when his mother was transported to hospital on Wednesday evening, her injuries appeared relatively minor.
“She had a blister on her hand and her face was black but she was treated and discharged.
“We stayed at neighbours last night and when we woke up this morning her whole face was blistered and swollen.
“She is back in hospital at the moment and while I’m happy that she managed to survive this fire, she is still in a lot of pain.”
Cassiem added that Ward 14 councillor, Lionel Asken, had visited the scene on Thursday and had promised to assist the family with a new shack.
“While this will definitely help, we have lost everything in this fire,” he said.
“I literally only have the clothes on my back. I’ve lost my ID, clothes, money . . . everything.”
DFA