Family and community to gather for candlelight vigil to honour young fire victim
Four-year-old Wanru Meyer lost his life in a house fire on Sunday. The community is invited to pay their respects and offer support to the grieving family.
A candlelight vigil will be held this Sunday (June 29) in honour of Wanru Meyer, the four-year-old who lost his life in a house fire in Queen Avenue on Sunday morning.
“It is difficult for all of us, and we are just trying to come to terms with the tragic incident,” said Elsie Meyer, Wanru’s grandmother.
She told the Brakpan Herald that her son Armand (23), his wife Makayla Strauss (22), and Wanru’s brother Calib (2) are currently staying with her.
“We appreciate all the support from friends, family, and residents, but we also need time to make all the necessary arrangements.
“At this point, we cannot finalise the funeral arrangements, but we will make them known as soon as we can.”
Armand, Makayla and Calib suffered minor injuries and smoke inhalation, while a neighbour sustained a minor laceration to the right hand.
The neighbour, Clive Shatzky (61), was injured when he attempted to break a window to get water into the burning building.
According to his wife Amanda (59), she was doing dishes in her house, which is adjacent to that of the family, when she heard a loud bang just before 08:00.
“I went outside and I saw the smoke coming from the house, after which I called Clive,” said Amanda.
Clive immediately took action and attempted to douse the fire with a fire hose from the back of the building.
“We did everything we could but the fire was very hot and we could not get too close,” he said.
Constable Audrey Buthelezi, Brakpan SAPS Sector 1 manager and communications officer, confirmed investigations are underway.
“The tragedy follows another fire incident along Queen Avenue on June 18, whereby firefighters managed to put out the fire and there were no injuries,” she said.
PHOTO: Thelma Koorts
“The cause of this fire is yet to be determined following investigations.”
Buthelezi added that police are appealing to the public to be extra cautious during the winter season.
The candlelight vigil will be held at 45E Queen Avenue at 17:30 for 18:00. Elsie said there will be a box available for people to place letters or messages for the family.
“Anyone who wishes to write a message to the family can bring it along and place it in the box,” she said.
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