THREE residents in a burning home were saved by uMhlathuze firemen and revived by Netcare 911 paramedics.
What made the rescue mission so unusual was that the trio of potential victims were all African Grey parrots.
They were alone in their owner’s unit at Hadeda Park in Arboretum when an electrical short circuit is believed to have ignited a couch in the living room.
By the time neighbours noticed smoke billowing from the windows, the three feathered friends were already being overcome by the fumes.
There was confusion as to where exactly in the two-storey flat the birds were, as they normally walk freely in and out of their cages.
And while two, Hoender and Adoons, were soon located and rescued, distraught owner Annelie van Deventer feared the third, Lulu, had perished in the fire.
A large crowd had gathered by the time firemen appeared with the wretched-looking feathered friend in her burnt cage, and they burst into spontaneous applause.
Covered in black soot, Lulu’s wings were singed and was battling to breathe.
As he had for one of the previous victims, Netcare 911 medic Max Shepherd provided a supply of oxygen to the stricken bird, which was then taken to a vet.
All three were declared fit to resume their duties of entertaining family and friends and, in the case of Lulu, continuing her bite attacks.
Looking more like a crow than an African Grey, soot-covered ‘Lulu’ makes a pitiful picture as she is given oxygen after being trapped inside a burning flat in Arboretum on Thursday. Read the story of the three birds whose goose was nearly cooked on page 2PHOTO: Liz Savides
