Mom of 3-Year-Old Who Died Running from Knysna Fire, Sadly Succumbs to Injuries. Husband Blessing is ‘Broken’.

We are so sad to confirm that the mother of three-year-old Catherine, who died in the Knysna Fires, has now also succumbed to her injuries, and passed away in Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, last night. She had suffered 70 percent burns to her body. Enala and her daughter had been trying to outrun the fire in the southern Cape of South Africa… when they were caught by the flames.

Today Scott said: “A little after 19h00 on Saturday night Enala passed away. Her heart was not able give her body what it needed to recover from the 70% burns she received. She has gone to join little Catherine again.”

Scott was amongst those who discovered little Catherine’s body after the fire. Although his own home was burned, Scott reached out to Catherine’s dad, Blessing Nyirenda, and set up a fund to raise money and hope for the little girl’s broken father, who has now lost his wife too.

As Scott explained in a heartfelt letter to friends and supporters on Facebook, Blessing had moved to South Africa with his family – from Malawi – to start a new life, filled with dreams and hopes. “He had a steady job and a home just 1 km from mine. He is the keyboard player in the church and is a well liked and very good man.”

Scott said that “discovering little Catherine was difficult… but what was even harder was when her father Blessing Nyirenda was brought to the scene… Blessing put everything in perspective as he collapsed to the ground sobbing uncontrollably.”

Scott said Blessing was a “broken man” and asked all those who have shown concern for his own family after the fires, and asked how they could be of assistance, to please instead “help me try rebuild Blessing’s life in one way or another.

“Be it R100 or $100 – any amount will go a long way towards trying to give this man some sort of life again…”

Blessing has been so grateful for the donations so far, and told Scott his first wish was to get baby Catherine’s body back to Malawi. Now he will need to also get Enala’s body returned… so that he can give them a proper funeral.

Scott has set up a trust account and says: “I will personally manage the funds and be accountable for every cent as I, along with your help, try and give Blessing a second chance at life.

“I am kick starting the fund with a donation of R5000.00 (about $400).

“Please guys, dig deep and let’s show Blessing that he is not alone and that people do care.”

TO DONATE to BLESSING’S FIRE FUND, PLEASE USE ANY OF THE BELOW:

DIRECTLY:
Account name: SATE TRUST
Account number: 62517860830
Bank name: First National Bank
Bank address: Blue Route Mall, Tokai, Cape Town
Bank code: 200409
Swift: FIRNZAJJ