Inferno hero says ‘I did my best’

GOOD DEED: RISKED HIS LIFE TO SAVE CHILDREN Brave foreigner ran back into burning building to try and save two more youngsters.

In the horrific blaze that claimed the lives of two toddlers at a Joburg creché, Zimbabwean Max Sandali saved three of the children.

Before this week’s Hillbrow fire claimed the lives of two toddlers and left two people inhospital, few people had heard of Max Sandali. But now the Zimbabwen is a hero.

Stories of Sandali’s gallantry emerged.

He saved the lives of three of the five children who were trapped in the burning flat in the Johannesburg CBD on Monday evening. The flat was used as an aftercare facility.

Sandali explained that once a nearby creche closed for the day, the children were brought to his flat where they waited for their parents to pick them up.

But fire broke out in the multistorey building on Koch Street late on Monday afternoon. At the time, there were five children, two adults and Sandali in the flat.

“I did my best to pull the children out of the building,” said Sandali.

“When the fire started, the granny and I took the three children out and because the fire was big, I ran back to take the remaining two toddlers.”

Sandali said when he got to the flat, the first child he carried out was already dead.

“I carried her and then gave her to the paramedics and ran back to get the other one.

“The last one was still breathing when I gave her to the paramedics, but was later declared dead.”

Chwayita Tose, whose child survived the fire, said she was aware of regular electricity faults in the building, but “I never expected something like this”.

“This woman took care of our children because we are desperate for caregivers after creche hours.”

Tose said the incident happened when she was on the way to collect her child and nearly fainted when she saw the fire.

“It happened so fast, as I was walking towards the building from work everything was fine but minutes after my arrival, the unit was on fi re. I was terrified,” said Tose.

Yesterday, officials from the social development department were in the building talking to the owner of the aftercare facility. Police declined to comment, saying they were waiting for Joburg Emergency Services to conclude their investigation. –

Pictures: Tracy Lee Stark ROOM OF DEATH. The burnt out interior of the unit in Chesterfield Flats in Hillbrow yesterday. The flat was being used as an aftercare centre and was gutted by fire. Two children died.