Husband loses foot due to gas bottle explosion at Villa Gloria

When their lives were in danger, the only thing that Herclaas Otto wanted to do was save his wife and their three pets, but this heroic effort cost him dearly.

The 65-year-old Herclaas and his wife Elize (58) were already in bed on September 9 when Elize saw what looked like a fire through the gaps in their front door. A massive fire had broken out at the Villa Gloria settlement, where they stay, and more than 50 people were left homeless when 17 of the wood and stone structures on the property burned down.

The Ottos’ one-bedroom living space was right next to the fire but did not burn.

After seeing the fire, Herclaas yelled at Elize to get their two dogs and get away. He then turned around to go and get their cat, Matewis. He was at the neighbour’s front door, only metres from his own house when a gas bottle inside one of the burning buildings exploded. They later found the cat safe and hiding under their bed.

• Also read: Tragedy as fire rages through Villa Gloria

Herclaas’ foot was injured and he called for Elize to come and help him. She saw his injured foot and yelled for help. They were assisted by two men who helped to drag Herclaas away from the fire.

Elize said her focus was on her husband at that time and she did not think about the fire. When the fire brigade arrived they helped Herclaas and the emergency services bandaged his foot.

“They told us that it looks like he will be OK,” she said.

However, once in the hospital, they were informed that a piece of her husband’s foot had broken off and was missing. The only thing left to do was to amputate.

According to Elize her husband is very emotional about the loss of his foot and said, “One of the first things he said to me was that he won’t be able to work and look after me now.”

Herclaas is a boilermaker who lost his job about three months ago. They had to downscale due to financial reasons and moved to Villa Gloria three weeks ago.

Elize explained that her husband is a very proud man who gets frustrated if he struggles; she said that it will be difficult for him without his foot. The couple will need a wheelchair for Herclaas realising their one-room home is not wheelchair friendly. She said that she hopes that someone will be able to help them with a prosthetic foot.

The couple has been married for 40 years and have two children and five grandchildren.

“My husband just wants to come home, he does not like hospitals.”

Elize wants to set the record straight and explains that no one died in the fire. Herclaas’ injury was the most serious. She added that the whole situation is already tragic enough as it is.

She wants to thank everyone for their prayers and support and asked if someone wants to assist her in getting to the Leratong Hospital and back every day she would appreciate it. She visits Herclaas in the hospital every day, she can be contacted on 083 494 3172. She also praises the Lord for not only keeping them safe, but their neighbors as well.