Sando councillor rescues fire victim

Councillor for Cocoyea/Tarouba Teresa Lynch ran into a burning building to rescue pensioner Evans Williams, 85, who was trapped in his home at St Andrew's Street, Cocoyea.

The fire broke out yesterday at around 2 pm. Lynch suffered burns to her left leg and minor cuts to her right feet while rescuing Williams. His trousers, she said, were in flames by the time she and others reached him.

Lynch was in her office, two buildings away, when she heard people screaming, '"Fire," and ran out to see Williams’s home in flames.

“I knew he was old and could not move quickly so I hurried to rescue him,” Lynch said.

Lynch said she jumped the fence since the gates were locked, and also broke the locked doors in order to get inside. She said villagers were warning her about going in.

“They were saying to wait for the fire service to arrive before entering the house, but I could not stand by knowing Williams was inside,” Lynch said.

She told Newsday when she got inside, Williams was slumped in a chair, coughing. The neighbours bodily lifted him and took him downstairs. An ambulance arrived within minutes and he was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital.

Lynch said Williams had burns on his hands and legs, but said, “I am happy that we were able to save his life.”

Firemen were not able to save the house, 75 per cent of which was destroyed.

They were seen looking through the rubble but could not yet determine the cause of the fire.