Former soldier Umar Sidee, 66, dashed into a blazing two-storey house in Sibu to rescue eight grandchildren and his son — a split-second decision that saved nine lives.
The fire tore through Kampung Jeriah Abang Ramli along Jalan Oya Lama around 11am on Sunday (June 7). Umar and his wife were at a nearby orchard when they heard explosions from the house.
"My wife suddenly shouted that our house was on fire. I heard several explosions," Umar told Bernama.
He ran inside, grabbed all his grandchildren aged 4 to 14 who were watching TV on the ground floor, then rushed upstairs to wake his son.
"I was in the armed forces before. I couldn't just watch my family die," he said.
Villagers tried to help put out the fire with buckets, but the flames spread too fast. Bomba firefighters arrived and ordered everyone back as conditions became dangerous.
The family of 19 from three households survived. But the house — built by Umar over nearly 40 years after he retired from military service in 1995 — was completely destroyed.
[image: 1780985601017-sibu-fire-house.jpeg]
Location: Kampung Jeriah Abang Ramli, Jalan Oya Lama, Sibu
Details: 19 family members from 3 households lost their home; all safe thanks to Umar's quick action
Source: https://dayakdaily.com/66yo-man-risks-life-to-save-grandchildren-son-from-sibu-house-fire/
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