Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Engen petrol attendant, Abdullah James, called ‘hero’ after saving people from burning taxi in Johannesburg. (Read More Here).
A petrol attendant has emerged as a hero after rescuing passengers trapped in a taxi that was burning right next to the petrol pumps.
After ensuring everyone was safe, 35-year-old Abdullah James rushed to get a fire extinguisher and doused the flames before it could spread.
“It all happened so quickly that my first instinct was just to save the people from burning,” said James about the 31 March incident, at the Engen Bramley service station in Johannesburg.
The taxi had just filled up and was preparing to leave when it burst into flames.
In the first few minutes of the video, the driver can be seen closing his door and preparing to take off as he had been assisted by another petrol attendant.
Out of nowhere a fire began to ignite underneath the minibus, while the passengers and the driver were inside.
In the video, cars at the station could be seen reversing from the scene, while the petrol attendant who was helping the taxi driver fled in the opposite direction.
As the video continued the fire could be seen spreading rapidly.
Attempting to open the passenger door to free those trapped inside the fiery taxi, Abdullah struggled.
The brave and selfless Engen Garage petrol attendant, Abdullah James (36) from Alexandra was caught in action saving passengers from a burning taxi.
The incident happened last week Monday, 27 March at the petrol station in Bramley, Joburg.
At the same time he tried to slide open the minibus door to allow for the rest of the passengers inside the taxi to escape.
In the last few minutes of the video, Abdullah along with two of his colleagues could be seen trying to extinguish the fire.
Having worked at the station for almost 11 years, Abdullah said it was the first time experiencing such a horrific incident.
But when confronted with a dire situation, his first instinct was to offer help instead of run.
In the footage captured by the petrol station’s CCTV cameras, people can be seen frantically trying to get out of the taxi while its doors seemed to be jammed.
People sitting at the back were the first to jump out, while others broke the window of the taxi, leaving shattered glass everywhere.
While some people fled, James – who was busy assisting a customer two pumps away – could be seen rushing to the burning taxi to free some of the screaming people trapped inside as smoke quickly engulfed it.
“I heard a woman screaming inside the taxi, asking for help. So, I quickly rushed to open the door to let her and the others out,” he said.
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