A 58-year-old man died on Saturday after Police ruled that a burning newspaper, intended to remove a beehive, was left unattended in a home in Newtown.

The man was living with his wife and son in Balabala Crescent.

Neighbours, Albert Berwick and his son, Sailosi, yesterday recalled the chilling moments of their attempt to rescue the man, who was said to be bedridden.

Sailosi was alarmed by his sister and together with his father went towards the burning house.

“When we got there, we saw the woman and her son crying and shocked by what was happening,” he said.

Sailosi asked the lady to point in the direction where her husband was allegedly locked in a room.

“We tried to open the front door from the bottom but we could not,” he said.

“We tried to climb up to the second-story to see if we could access the door, but by the time we got there, I could already feel the heat.

“The only thing I could hear was the faint knocking on the door. I wanted to open it but the whole floor was engulfed in flames, that it was too hot to go any closer.

Sailosi Berwick at the scene of the fire at Balabala Crescent, Newtown, on November 19, 2023. Photo: Leon Lord

“I told my dad who told me to go back down.”

Mr Albert said although it was unfortunate, there was little anyone could do or else someone else would have been at risk.

“The most disappointing thing was that the man could have been saved had the Police arrived in time,” he said.

The Newtown Community Post is just across the road.

Another witness, Tarusila Senimaqo, 46, said the community Police Post was empty when they tried to seek assistance.

By the time the National Fire Authority and Police arrived, the second-story was already engulfed in flames.

Divisional Police Commander South (DPC/S) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Wate Vocevoce said the intensity of the fire made it difficult to evacuate the victim.

He said the fire was caused by a burnt newspaper, intended to remove a beehive, which was left unattended.

“A joint investigation is now underway with the National Fire Authority,” SSP Vocevoce said.

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