S
Sun Quan
Guest
Wednesday January 5, 2011
Fireman who dangled himself on window ledge to save woman commended
KOTA KINABALU: A fireman in Penampang who risked his life to save a woman after having dangled himself on a window ledge has been commended by his department.
Dunstan Peter, 28, said he did what was expected of him as a fireman although it was his day off.
Recalling the incident, Dunstan said he was visiting an aunt at her flat when he noticed a crowd outside a nearby block.
He saw the woman in her mid 20s sitting on the awning and immediately alerted his department.
Some people tried to reach for her from a window above but they failed.
He ran up to the flat, dangled himself out of the window and managed to grab hold of the woman just as the awning’s aluminium strips started caving in.
“I am just thankful that I was there when it happened.
“This is what is expected of us as firemen,” Dunstan said modestly of the Jan 2 incident.
Yesterday, Dunstan, along with two other colleagues, received letters of commendation for bravery from Mayor Datuk Illiyas Ibrahim at the department’s oath taking ceremony.
Department director Khirudin Drahman told the gathering earlier that house fires made up the largest number of fire incidents in Sabah last year.
He said a total of 366 fires involving structures were reported in the state last year and most of these were due to carelessness in the use of electrical items.
