Boy burnt to ashes in lantern mishap

Patrick Chitumba
A FAMILY from Charandura area in Chirumanzu only managed to recover a charred head and some intestines as remains from their seven-year-old boy consumed by a fire.

According to the summary of a sudden death form (form 43) Nicholas Mazvimba, was consumed by the fire which started around 8pm on Monday evening in a bedroom hut he shared with his siblings.

The deceaseda��s brother, Kudakwashe (9) escaped death by a whisker when he managed to run out before the thatched bedroom hut was engulfed.

a�?The grandparents of the seven-year-old deceased boy Nicholas Mazvimba retired to bed around 8pm. They went into their bedroom hut with Nicholas and his brother Kudakwashe retiring to their own bedroom hut,a�? reads part of the form.

Inside the boysa�� bedroom hut, the report noted, was a home-made paraffin lantern which they were using for light.

a�?After preparing to sleep, Kudakwashe wanted to put out the light from the lantern and used a cloth which caught fire. He then threw away the cloth that had caught fire and it fell on the mattress where Nicholas was already lying,a�? reads the report.

Kudakwashe, on seeing that a fire had started in their hut bolted out and notified his grandparents.

a�?When Kudakwashe and their grandparents returned, the thatched hut had been engulfed by fire and smoke was all over.

a�?The family then watched haplessly as Nicholas was consumed by the fire which they failed to put out until it had burnt all the things in the hut and consumed the boy in the process.a�?

Sources said the family only recovered a charred head and some intestines as remains from Nicholasa��s body.

a�?Thata��s what they are going to bury,a�? said the source.

Midlands provincial magistrate Phathekile Msipa waived postmortem at the request of the grandparents who said they did not suspect any foul play in the death of the grandchild.

Their parents work in South Africa as such they were under the care of their grandparents.

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