A little girl of eight is in critical condition after a lightning bolt claimed the lives of her younger brother and two sisters.The children are from Gqogqora village, Mdeni location, in Tsomo.
They were seated in their grandmother’s rondavel just after 3pm when the lightning struck.
The incident occurred last Sunday in a village in Tsomo.
The girl, Songeziwe Fubesi, is in high care in Frere Hospital.
While little Mayihlome Fubesi, four, died on the scene his siblings Sonezo, nine, and Cebisa, 13, died later that evening at Frere Hospital.
They all had third-degree burns.
Their aunt Nomafu Fubesi, 63, said the four children were home alone when the lightning struck.
“Their mother was visiting a neighbour. She was told by a resident that smoke was coming out of her rondavel.
“She rushed to the scene but collapsed from shock when she saw the rondavel was on fire with her children inside,” Fubesi said.
Neighbours rushed to the scene and tried to save the trapped children who were screaming from inside.
“Two men gained entry through a window, but the huge smoke made it impossible for them to see.
“Then they found Mayihlome lying next to his grandmother’s bed already dead. The three other children were hiding under the bed, crying and screaming.
“They were taken out,” said Fubesi.
The family asked for the help of a neighbour who owns a bakkie.
“She rushed them to Cofimvaba hospital and when doctors saw the serious condition of the children they transferred them to a high care facility in East London.
“We later got news that evening saying the two girls had died.
“The situation with the third girl was also serious,” said Fubesi.
She said the family was in need of food and clothing.
A local businessman has taken pity on the stricken family and offered to pay towards the three funerals on Friday.
East London funeral parlour owner Mandla Phakamile Makinana pledged his support for the family.
“I am going to bury all three children free of charge. The family is very poor and depends on social grants for survival,” Makinana said.
He said a funeral of this size would normally cost R20000.
He said he heard of the family’s tragedy through residents he helped before in similar situation.
Girl, 8, fighting for her life after lightning bolt kills three siblings
The children are from Gqogqora village, Mdeni location, in Tsomo.
They were seated in their grandmother’s rondavel just after 3pm when the lightning struck.
The incident occurred last Sunday in a village in Tsomo.
The girl, Songeziwe Fubesi, is in high care in Frere Hospital.
While little Mayihlome Fubesi, four, died on the scene his siblings Sonezo, nine, and Cebisa, 13, died later that evening at Frere Hospital.
They all had third-degree burns.
Their aunt Nomafu Fubesi, 63, said the four children were home alone when the lightning struck.
“Their mother was visiting a neighbour. She was told by a resident that smoke was coming out of her rondavel.
“She rushed to the scene but collapsed from shock when she saw the rondavel was on fire with her children inside,” Fubesi said.
Neighbours rushed to the scene and tried to save the trapped children who were screaming from inside.
“Two men gained entry through a window, but the huge smoke made it impossible for them to see.
“Then they found Mayihlome lying next to his grandmother’s bed already dead. The three other children were hiding under the bed, crying and screaming.
“They were taken out,” said Fubesi.
The family asked for the help of a neighbour who owns a bakkie.
“She rushed them to Cofimvaba hospital and when doctors saw the serious condition of the children they transferred them to a high care facility in East London.
“We later got news that evening saying the two girls had died.
“The situation with the third girl was also serious,” said Fubesi.
She said the family was in need of food and clothing.
A local businessman has taken pity on the stricken family and offered to pay towards the three funerals on Friday.
East London funeral parlour owner Mandla Phakamile Makinana pledged his support for the family.
“I am going to bury all three children free of charge. The family is very poor and depends on social grants for survival,” Makinana said.
He said a funeral of this size would normally cost R20000.
He said he heard of the family’s tragedy through residents he helped before in similar situation.
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