Durban - Pat Pillay, 51, and his son Fabian, 20, had a close call after their car burned to its shell on Durban’s M41 freeway near Gateway on Wednesday.
They had been on their way from Hillary to the Gateway shopping mall when Pillay saw smoke coming out of the bonnet of his Toyota Avanza.
He immediately pulled over to the emergency lane. Within minutes, the 2005 model vehicle had burst into flames.
The two jumped out, grabbing as many of their belongings as possible, before they were urged to get away from the fire by tow truck driver, Matthew Govender, who had just arrived.
“I am a bit shocked and disappointed but it could have been worse. I went to open the bonnet of the car and my son advised me not to, but I got burned on my hand.”
Pillay was grateful to a passing motorist who gave them a first aid kit with a burn seal treatment, which helped ease the pain.
Pillay, who does not have car insurance, said the emergency services reacted within minutes, dousing the fire.
The flames had spread quickly and were so fierce that the fire department later advised it was possible the fuel tank had started leaking, thus feeding the blaze.
Daily News