Monkey dies in fire

2008-10-09 10:02

Bobbi Scheckle

Port Elizabeth - When the Dreyer family left their home on Wednesday morning, they had no idea that it would be the last time they saw their marmoset monkey, Tico, and all their possessions.

A fire, presumably caused by lightning, gutted Nico and Suné Dreyer's thatched-roof home at about 10:00.

Tico died tragically in the fire.

Their visibly-shocked domestic worker Thelma Jacobs, told how the gardener had knocked on the door to tell her that the house was on fire. "I didn't even know the house was on fire. I didn't smell smoke."

Jacobs and the gardener fled the house and sought help from neighbour Tany Compton, who thought the smoke was fog.

Her husband immediately called the fire brigade, but the house was destroyed within minutes.

Nico's mother, June, said the house was gutted.

"We suspect that the thatched roof was hit by lightning, though we aren't sure yet," she said. "I can't believe it, there is nothing left - except for the laundry hanging on the washing line."

Nelson Mandela metro spokesperson Kupido Baron said the cause of the fire was still unknown, but an investigation would follow.

- Die Burger