Father dies saving son from fire

KUALA TERENGGANU: An Umno branch member died while rescuing his three-year-old son from a fire that broke out at their semi-detached house in Kuala Ibai on Thursday (Jan 11).

Kuala Ibai Umno branch deputy chief Ahmad Fakhrurazi Shafie, 45, was found lying unconscious outside the house while his son, Muhammad Aqil Harith Ahmad Fakhrurazi - the youngest of four children - was sitting on his chest.

Ahmad Fakhrurazi was believed to have died of smoke inhalation.

His 73-year-old mother Tengku Maznah Tengku Sulong, who lives nearby, said she was unaware of the fire which occurred at about 8.30am.

“My son's eldest nephew told me that Ahmad Fakhrurazi had fainted (during the fire) but when I arrived at the scene of the incident, he had already breathed his last," she said.

Tengku Maznah added when speaking to reporters at her home here that Ahmad Fakhrurazi was seen clutching his youngest son to his chest while running out to safety before he fell on the ground.

The victim's 38-year-old wife Tengku Mastura Tengku Ahmad was on her way to work while the couple's three other children were at school at the time of the fire.

She is currently four months pregnant.

The victim's eldest nephew, Ahmad Syahir Azizi Ahmad Zulfa, 18, said he was on his way to his workplace nearby when he saw the fire but was under the impression someone was burning rubbish.

“I heard the sound of a window shattering and saw smoke when I got into the house. I immediately rushed to the scene and saw the victim, who looked pale, lying unconscious with his son on top of him," said Ahmad Syahir.

“I tried to revive him but to no avail. I was made to understand later that my uncle had died as soon as the medical team arrived,” he added.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department director Azlimin Mat Noor said 18 firemen on two fire engines were deployed to the scene.

However, he said the house was already engulfed in flames.

“We took 10 minutes to bring the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to nearby houses. The fire only damaged the ground floor of the house." - Bernama