Workers risk lives to save farmer from fire

Bloemfontein - Two farmworkers risked their lives to save their employer who was about to be engulfed by flames during a veld fire on his farm Witvlei in the Northern Cape.

Slimly built Arrie Meyer, 30, and Andries Depone, 44, did not hesitate to rush through flames to carry the 200kg Johan de Bruyn, 65, to safety, reported Volksblad.

De Bruyn, a former Springbok prop, was fighting the fire on his farm when his car became stuck and as he got out, he slipped and fell.

Depone said he saw the fire was going to reach De Bruyn and decided to go in to help him. He said he didn’t think twice because De Bruyn was a good man.

“I was a bit scared but I took the chance to save him,” said Depone who along with Meyer, carried the farmer by the arms.

Meyer said there was no one else on the farm and De Bruyn needed help.

“I don’t know where we got the strength. All I could think of was [saving] him from the fire.”

The farmer’s wife, Nettie de Bruyn said she was deeply grateful to the two men.

“We aren’t the farmers and they the workers. We all work together here on Witvlei.”

De Bruyn was admitted to hospital with burn wounds to his legs, arm and hand. He is in a stable condition.