Family of five lose all of belongings in west house fire

A Danville family lost all of their belongings after a house fire caused by a gas bottle explosion just after 20:00 on Tuesday.

It is believed that a candle caused the gas bottle to exploded.

Alet Stroebel of Rainbow Kids said grandmother Thea Neethling (67), daughter Madelein (45) and her husband William (45), son Franco Trollip (19) and Elizabeth Trollip (11) were taken to hospital.

“Neethling and Franco were discharged from hospital. William, who is wheelchair-bound due to cancer, suffered injuries and is still in a Pretoria West hospital.

Madelein sustained serious injuries to her back and her little girl Elizabeth is in the high intensive care unit in Kalafong hospital.

XseBlixsem Namola Response Unit was called to the scene.

“The response unit received calls from the community that a house was on fire.

“The community struggled to get to the family trapped in the burning house, and to get them out in time,” said Frik de Bruin of the response unit.

“All five of the family members were taken to nearby hospitals with serious injuries and burns. They also inhaled gases.

“The family had eight pets that unfortunately died during the fire,” De Bruin said.

Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso said that firefighters arrived on the scene around 20:30, to find the house already gutted by fire.

“They managed to extinguish the fire, but two rooms were completely damaged by the fire,” he said.

Various non-profit organisations have offered their help to the family.

Carlene Smith of Careson Angels has created a group for the Trollip family to assist them with necessities.

“The family is one of many families we are involved with. If there is any help out there it would be sincerely appreciated.

“The need and poverty is so great and then things like that still happen as well,” she said.

Smith said anyone who wanted to offer their help may drop off supplies at Careson Angels or at Danville Help Project in the East.

Rainbow Kids, in Danville, has been assisting the family for 12 years.

“The family did not have electricity and used gas to cook,” said Stroebel.

“They work incredibly hard to bring food to the table and to look after each other.

“We pray and hope we will be able to get some financial support to help get the family back on their feet.”

Anyone who would like to make a contribution can make donations at 155 Du Plessis Street in Danville.

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