GEORGE TOWN: A husband's quick action saved his wife from perishing in a fire that broke out at their unit on the fourth floor of the Jalan Tengah Flats in Taman Bukit Gedung, Bayan Lepas, near here Monday (Nov 13).
The couple, Lew Joo Hing, 60, and Lim Beng Lay, 58, however, suffered 40% and 80% burns, respectively.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Mohamad Hirman Mat Rodzi said his team received the distress call at 1.15 pm about a unit in the flats that was on fire, and the first fire engine from the Bayan Baru Fire and Rescue Station was immediately dispatched to the location.
"On arrival, we found that one of the rooms in the house was on fire and that the couple were already outside of the flat with burns to their faces, arms and bodies.
"The firefighters succeeded in dousing the flames at 1.37pm,” he said when contacted Monday.
Mohamad Hirman said according to the husband, he was climbing up the stairs to his flat when he saw smoke emanating from the house and raced up to save his wife.
"It was the husband’s quick actions that saved his wife from a fiery death, as the woman was in a state of shock when the incident occurred.
"The husband sustained burns to his face and hands while the wife suffered burns to nearly her entire body. Both of them were taken to the Penang Hospital for further treatment,” he said, adding that the total losses and cause of the fire are still under investigation. - Bernama
