Twelve-year-old Louis Karinga became a hero at Hillside Endarasha Academy by risking his life to save two friends from the deadly fire that claimed 21 lives.
Karinga, who was asleep in the dormitory, woke up to intense heat and saw the room engulfed in flames and smoke.
“I remember I was asleep when I suddenly felt a lot of heat and then I woke up there was a huge fire and everyone was running away,” he told the nation.
Karinga added that when he woke up, he saw the pupils running and he had to follow them before realizing that one of the students was still inside the blanket.
He immediately woke him up and together they jumped out through the window to safety.
“While I was running, I found out that there was another pupil who was asleep. I woke him up and told him to run away. I asked him to jump through the window, “he added.
Pupil Narrates How He Saved His Friends in Hillside Academy
After rescuing the first boy, who had slight burns on his arm, Karinga discovered another student still inside.
Karinga stated that he had to borrow a torch from his friend so that he could save the other one.
Without hesitation, he bravely re-entered the building to rescue the second Grade Seven boy.
” I went to save the other friend, and I picked him, and we all jumped through the window,” he added.
Also Read: Hillside Endarasha: Mother Who Spoke to Her Son Hints at What Caused Deadly Fire
However, Karinga was admitted to the hospital after inhaling a significant amount of smoke during the rescue. According to his father, he is now in stable condition and recovering well.
Karinga’s father praised him for his bravery and selflessness, referring to him as a hero for his courageous actions during the fire.
Suspected Cause of Fire
A mother of a pupil who survived the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire has hinted at a possible cause of the tragic incident that resulted in 18 fatalities and over 27 injuries.
In an interview with Citizen TV, she shared that her son reported that the fire began after a light bulb exploded about an hour after the students entered the dormitory.
“He told us that a light bulb exploded and fell on the mattress of one of the students causing a fire. The bulb fell onto the upper deck bed, igniting the mattress,” she said.
Also Read: Hillside Endarasha School: Pope Francis Shares Message for Kenya After Tragic Fire
My son got out of his bed to search for water to extinguish the fire, but he didn’t find any. Upon returning, he found that the fire was still burning.”
He then alerted three of his classmates, but their attempts to put out the fire were unsuccessful.”
Government Spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura, during a visit to the scene of the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire, reported that the number of pupils not accounted for currently stands at 48.
He revealed that 108 students have been accounted for while 15 parents have reported that they cannot trace their children.
Meanwhile, Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murugu stated that a DNA test will be conducted on Monday, September 9 to reveal the identities of the pupils who burnt beyond recognition.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
