The charred and grotesquely bent springs of a mattress among the rubble of this France Street home
in Timothy Valley, was a harrowing reminder of a 62-year-old grandmother’s desperate last attempt
to escape raging flames.
Neighbours speculate that Gladys Palmer, affectionately known as Ouma in the neighbourhood,
tried to escape the falling debris and flames by hiding under her mattress in the early hours of
Saturday morning.
Sadly, it also became her last resting place.
A family member, Julius Buys, said that it is miraculous that ten other relatives managed to escape
the fire since the occupants were woken by the loud banging of neighbours alerting them of the
danger, while peacefully asleep.
Palmer’s grandson, Gugu Palmer, managed to grab the children and
took them out of the inferno, but could not return to help anyone else due to the intensity of the
fire.
Executive mayor, Gary van Niekerk, conveyed his condolences to the distraught family and arranged
with Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Disaster Management for temporary relief packages
(mattresses, blankets, food and sanitary products) as the family home was completely razed to the
ground and they had lost all their possessions.
“When I found out about your ordeal this afternoon, I decided to slip out of discussions to conclude
our Mayoral Committee to show you my concern and support. I would like to appeal to the community to assist the family, especially the children, with school
uniforms, food, clothes and any other assistance.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them, as it
cannot be easy to lose all your earthly belongings and your grandmother at the same time,” Van Niekerk said.
The call to the Fire and Emergency Services was received at 03:39 on Saturday and the first fire
engine arrived at the scene at 04:08. The fire was completely extinguished by 05:06.
The municipality’s Electricity and Energy Directorate disconnected the house from the electricity grid
and restored supply to the rest of France Street.
