TSHITEREKE - A bus assistant was lucky to survive when he was trapped inside his employee’s bus when it mysteriously caught fire last Wednesday night. He was seriously burnt on his arms, but he became an instant hero because he saved two vehicles and a ten-roomed house from catching fire.

He was rushed to Donald Fraser Hospital for treatment, where he was treated and discharged the following day.

Azwidohwi Mphaga (23) of Tshitereke village, outside Thohoyandou, said the driver parked the bus at about 19:00 as usual, and there was nothing suspicious with it. “Part of my job is to clean the bus every night. I felt very tired and I decided to take a long rest inside the bus. Later, at about 22:00, when I started to do the cleaning, a mysterious fire broke at the back of the bus. It happened so fast that the fire filled the whole bus in a few seconds. I tried to run out, but I could not see the way. I threw myself out of the burning bus and neighbours started to converge. The cause of the fire is still a mystery and I’m still shocked by the incident,” said Azwidohwi, who was visibly in great pain.

Azwidohwi said he realized that the sedan Mercedes Benz and a Nissan bakkie that were parked next to the bus could catch fire at any time. “Although the vehicles were slightly damaged by the fire, we managed to push them aside to safety.”

The house could have also burnt if Azwidohwi had not torn out the part of the roof that protruded towards the parking of the bus. “I immediately stepped into the roof and tore it off because part of it had already caught fire. I tore the burning roof with my bare hands and that was where my hand was severely burnt. When the fire fighters came, they found that we had already extinguished the fire with water and they organized an ambulance to rush me to the hospital.”

Although he has been injured, Azwidohwi says he is happy because he has prevented a disaster that might have led to the loss of life and valuable property. “I thank God that I survived such a mysterious fire and I am happy for the role that I have played, although I am now in great pain.”