Kwa-Thema – A four-year-old boy died after a fire destroyed a church in Highland on Wednesday morning.

It is believed the child’s older brother (17) was woken up by his eight-year-old nephew, screaming that the building was on fire and the little boy was trapped inside.

Kwa-Thema police spokesperson Sgt Media Khoza told the African Reporter the teenager quickly rushed to the part of the church which is used as a sitting room.

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The family lives in the church building.

“He found the room engulfed in flames and was unable to get inside.

“He tried putting out the fire, but was unsuccessful and ran to neighbours for help.

“Neighbours attempted to extinguish the fire with buckets of water until the fire brigade arrived.

“It was unfortunately too late for the little boy and he succumbed to his injuries,” she said.

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According to Khoza, the boy’s parents were not present at the time of the incident.

“His father was at work and his mother was at the clinic,” she said.

The cause of the fire is unknown and an investigation is underway.

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