Germiston teen saves woman from burning house

The Grade 9 Hoërskool Oosterlig pupil told Germiston City News he had responded to the fire with his grandfather Corrie and uncle Cornel last week.

“When we got there, a woman next door shouted that there were people in the house. My grandfather and uncle tried to break through the gate, but they couldn’t. I ran into the kitchen and saw a woman standing there in the smoke. I grabbed her and then dragged her out,” said Potgieter.

By this time firefighters from Wadeville Fire Station and paramedics from Netcare 911 were on their way to the scene. Both Potgieter, who suffers from asthma, and the woman were treated on scene for smoke inhalation and then transported to Sunward Park Hospital and OR Tambo Memorial Hospital, respectively, for further care.

The woman who was saved was later arrested by the Elsburg police and detained at the Elsburg Police Station. She appeared in the Germiston Magistrates’ Court to face a charge of arson. She was then released on free bail.

In a separate incident, Salt Rock resident Michael Fann used his own hosepipe to try and control a blaze in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. Fann managed to save two dogs that were stuck inside the burning house, North Coast Courier reported.

Paul Herbst from IPSS Medical Rescue said the dogs were not injured in the fire. “No one was in the house, and the dogs did not suffer any injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage and will be investigated.”

– Caxton News Service