Burnt Turffontein baby dies in hospital

Jeremiah, a nine-month-old baby from Turffontein, died from fourth-degree burn wounds from a hot two-plate stove on September 13.

According to eyewitness Cyble Ngxongo, who lives in the same house, it was one of the most painful moments she ever saw in her life.

The COURIER met with her on September 15 and she said she hasn’t slept nor eaten and she was exhausted.

The incident happened on Saturday night at about 8pm. “I was taking a bath when I smelt something burning. At first I thought it were plugs because we often had electric faults.

“I then told my husband to investigate as this smell was not from our room. Upon investigating, I heard him shouting for water. I quickly dressed up and gave him water,” explained Cyble.

She said the sight of baby Jeremiah in that state will be etched in her heart for a long time.

“The baby was burnt from the hand towards his lower torso, the clothes and the blankets he was covered with were sticking to his skin. Strangely, he was not crying, he was breathing slowly with blood often coming out of his mouth when he coughed.

“We called the ambulance and then went outside to find out if there was anyone who could help while we waited for an ambulance. No one stopped. No one helped. We were frustrated because we could see this was an emergency.

“There was a time when he stopped breathing for about 10 to 15 minutes and I was so traumatised. I prayed and prayed for him. I was so glad when I heard him coughing again. I made him his formula and tried to feed him while we waited,” noted Cyble.

A good Samaritan came at about 9pm and took the baby to South Rand Hospital where he was immediately transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. He died in hospital on Sunday morning at about 2am.

“When the ambulance called us at 9.11pm wanting directions, we told them that a car had already taken him to hospital. What puzzled us was that baby Jeremiah wasn’t crying all this time. This was strange, I have lost a child before and this was unbearable for me, I couldn’t handle it. My heart is sore. He died a slow and painful death. I am shattered,” she said.

Booysens SAPS communications officer Capt Lorraine van Emmerik said, “The police were called to the scene and an inquest docket was opened.

We received information concerning the incident, and if needed the charge on the docket will be changed to murder once all the relevant information has been obtained.”