A mother-of-two is feared dead after being trapped in a horror house fire, as her devastated neighbors reveal how they tried to free her from the blaze.
Joyce Lewis was last seen screaming for help from the second floor of her home on Hollywood Crescent, Willoughby, on Sydney’s lower north shore.
Dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene just after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday after neighbors reported seeing thick black smoke pouring from the house.
Neighbor Armand Kum said Ms. Lewis appeared to be trapped in a room on the second floor and could be heard pleading for help.
He rushed to her home armed with a hose and a ladder, but was unable to fight the rising flames and thick plumes of smoke.
Joyce Lewis (pictured) was last seen screaming from the second floor of her burning home in Willoughby, on Sydney’s lower north shore, on Saturday morning.
Dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene just after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday after neighbors reported seeing thick black smoke pouring from the house (photo, crew on scene)
“I tried to get up there, but I just couldn’t,” he told the newspaper Daily telegram.
‘I was there for ten minutes, holding the tube to her face. She said: ‘I’m burning, Armand, I’m burning.’
Neighbor Dania Guerrea watched in horror as her neighbor screamed for help.
“She was dangling her arms out the window trying to get air,” she said 9News.
‘Today unfortunately I couldn’t be superwoman and save someone. It’s really sad.’
A firefighter suffered burns to his hand after falling through a second-floor landing.
Neighbor Armand Kum (pictured) said Ms Lewis appeared to be trapped in a room on the second floor and could be heard pleading for help
Firefighters will return to the completely destroyed home after it is deemed structurally safe. The cause of the fire is still unknown (photo, smoke is coming from the house on Saturday)
It is believed that Mrs. Lewis lived in the house for decades. Her husband was traveling between states when he received news of the horror fire.
Firefighters will return to the completely destroyed home after it is deemed structurally safe. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
“At this stage the investigation is still in its infancy, very early stages,” Chief Inspector Conrad Walsh told reporters on Saturday.
“We are still waiting for approval to participate.”
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Fire and Rescue NSW for comment.