Community figure burns to death in electricity-box fire

THE last memory a Helenvale family will have of their mother is of her holding her head while sitting curled up on her bed as flames engulfed her home on Sunday afternoon.

Maria Floors, 66, a much-loved figure in her community, died in the blaze when the electricity box exploded and set the house alight.

Her husband, Abraham Floors, 77, who was with her when the tragedy occurred, managed to escape the flames to try and seek help, seconds before the roof caved in.

Floors's daughter, Deidré, said they were struggling to come to terms with the manner in which their mother died. "When we woke up on Sunday the electricity in the area was off," she said. "It came on and went off again the entire day. Some time after 4pm my dad came knocking on my door and said their [electricity] box had blown. - Alvené du Plessis