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8-member Indian family rescued from fire in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - Paralysed 84-year-old gets his voice back during the incident.

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An 84-year-old fully-paralysed Indian man, his 74-year-old wife and other members of his family were rescued from a fire by the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence officials late Saturday night. The fire broke out in a residential complex in the Navy Gate area in Abu Dhabi, and though all residents in the building were evacuated, eight members of John family were rescued due to the timely intervention of the civil defence members.
Longtime Abu Dhabi resident Saju George John, his wife Kochumol Mathew, their four children and his elderly parents have been living in the apartment for several years. During an evacuation, John's father, Georgekutty, who has been paralysed since 2013, slipped off his wheelchair while his son and daughter-in-law were coming down the stairway of the building. His aged mother Soshamma, who was right behind them started panting due to the thick blanket of smoke in the building stairway.
"The fire broke out late at night, and the building elevators had shut down. It is a five-storey building, and fortunately, we live on the second floor. We'd climbed down one floor and while going to the next, my thumb got jammed into the wheelchair," recounted John. His wife panicked at the loud sound he made, which caused them to lose balance, resulting in his father slipping off and falling down the stairs.

'I heard dad's voice after years'

The family began shouting for help at this moment. "It was a terrifying moment because I haven't heard my father speak since 2013. When he fell, he shouted for the first time since," said John while recounting the incident. Their four children had rushed down to safety in the meanwhile and were being taken care of by civil defence authorities.
"Luckily, someone had opened the main door at that time, and the civil defence authorities heard our cries for help. A few officers rushed up the stairway and immediately carried my father, my mother and us to safety," John said. Fortunately, his father only suffered visible head wounds, and none of the injuries was internal. "If it weren't for them, the losses would've been terrible," said Kochumol.
"Our mother was right behind us holding our passports and other important documents," they added. "But the smoke was so thick she couldn't breathe and was forced to sit down," said John.
After rushing to Khalifa Hospital, and conducting two MRI scans, the doctors assured John that his dad has no internal injuries.
John's father collapsed in the bathroom on December 16, 2013. He had suffered a severe cerebral haemorrhage that left him completely paralysed," said Kochumol.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com