BALIK PULAU: The sole survivor of a fire that killed three family members said his mother and brother ran back into the burning shoplot home to find their younger sister.
"My mother did not think twice. She just ran into the burning shoplot when she realised my younger sister was inside. My brother followed her.
"I wanted to run in after them, but the fire and heat were too intense. I felt like fainting.
"That was the last time I saw them. They never made it out," said Rashid, 29, at the Balik Pulau Hospital's Forensic Department here today.
The dead are Nurul Bowjiya, 58, Muhammad Ibrahim, 33, and Rahbiah Jasmin, 20.
Rashid said it was his mother who first realised that smoke was enveloping the entrance of their home and shouted to them.
The four stayed upstairs while they ran a business downstairs selling carpets and other items.
"My brother and I were shocked and ran downstairs.
"By then, witnesses who saw the smoke had called the fire station.
"Within seconds, the fire became intense. It was pitch dark."
He said firemen found the remains of his mother and siblings below
"I have no one left now. I am all alone," he said, adding that his father had died a long time ago.
Earlier, southwest district police chief Superintendent Kamarul Rizal Jenal said they were alerted to the fire at Kedai Perniagaan Muhammad Saida at 7.02am.
He said firefighters put out the fire by 8.50am, and found the victims about 10am.