MUAR: Disabled powerlifting athlete Muhammad Ata Maarof was killed in a fire at 11.45am this morning.
He sustained 80 per cent burns after the kitchen at the his mother’s house in Taman Pagoh Jaya caught fire.
The 28-year-old was a bronze medallist in the 55kg division at the 19th Para Sukan Malaysia in Ipoh in 2018.
Pagoh Fire and Rescue Station Operation Commander Jefri Jamal said the incident occurred while Ata was on vacation at his village.
“He was unable to save himself from the fire due to his disability, which saw him being paralysed from his waist downwards,” he said.
Jefri said 60 per cent of the home’s permanent structure was destroyed in the fire.
“Initial investigations revealed that the victim was in the kitchen and failed to save himself when the fire began.
“The victim who was working in Kuala Lumpur was back at his mother’s place for vacation.
“He was on the last day of his five day vacation,” he said.
Jefri said 25 firefighters from Pagoh and here were rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 11.59am.
“The cause of the incident and the estimated losses are still under investigation,” he said.
Muar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Zaharudin Rasip confirmed the incident.
He said, at the time of the incident, the victim was alone in the house as his mother, Noriah Mohd Roslan, was attending a Haj course at the Pagoh Mosque.
“The victim’s remains which wasfound in the kitchen was sent to Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital for post-mortem,” he said.