Durban - Neighbour tried in vain to save the life of a 64-year-old man who died in a fire at an Asherville house at the weekend.
The casual labourer, who lived in what appeared to be a shed attached to the Protea Road house, had arrived home at about 8pm on Saturday.
A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said on Sunday that she saw smoke coming from the backyard and heard the sound of glass breaking
.
When she went to investigate she saw a fire at the corner of the property next door. The neighbour realised that a man often lived there and rushed to try to douse the flames with buckets of water. Residents also used hosepipes to put out the flames.
Neighbours were horrified when they saw the man’s charred remains inside.
Firemen said the cause was unknown.
The owner of the property did not want to comment.
Police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane said an inquest docket had been opened at the Sydenham SAPS.
Daily News