Driver escapes fiery death

Having suffered severe burns before, Mr Harold Martins was well aware of the severity of the burns he sustained, when his car burst into flames on November 3.

Martins had taken the ramp from OR Tambo onto the N12 highway in the direction of Middelburg when the car caught alight.
“I heard a loud bang from the back of my car. When I reached back, my arm caught fire,” said Martins.
Martins’ Mitsubishi Pajero burst into flame. He had to make a quick decision to stop the vehicle to escape the blaze.

“I got out as fast as I could. I don’t know what started the fire,” he added.
Martins managed to extinguish the flames on his arm.

A passer-by noticed the blaze and contacted Emalahleni Fire Department. Shortly after the call was made, one of the emergency response vehicles arrived on scene and a fire fighter began dousing the flames.
Moments later the fire truck arrived and the Pajero’s flames were put out. The car’s upholstery and cosmetics were all but burnt away and all that remained was a metal skeleton, scorched black.

Martins was able to narrowly escape the blaze. His wife arrived on scene and rushed him to his house doctor, Dr Francois Wessels, who treated him for first and second degree burns.
“Luckily the burns only affected a small patchy surface on his left arm and left hand. We expect to see him during the week to see how the burns are doing,” said Dr Wessels.

Martins previously suffered severe burns to both his arms while working on a power cable. The incident burnt both his arms to the extent that he had to have skin grafts on both limbs.
“I am worried that these burns will affect the skin graft I had done and I am still confused about how there could be an explosion in the car,” said Martins.

Martins was booked off from work for a week. His wife remains unsettled at the fact that the car burst into flame, but is relieved that Martins is safe.