A Close Brush With Death: Ghanaian Firefighter Shares A Harrowing Experience That Almost Took His Life
Matt Korshie Sallah, a Ghanaian fire service officer, has gone viral for sharing a horrifying work experience on social media.
Titled “A Close Brush with Death,” the fire officer detailed a harrowing experience that took the lives of two civilians who believed he was not doing much to bring a fire situation under control and almost ended his life as well.
He wrote:
“At exactly 1822 hours, while we were relaxing and engaged in some personal activities, mentally and physically prepared for any sudden misfortune, as is mandated of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), our call sign ‘HOTEL QUEBEC’ crackled through the Gotta radio set.
The call jolted us to our feet, signalling an emergency. We waited intently for directives from Fire Master Control regarding which appliance to dispatch and the exact location of the incident.
Soon after, Fire Master Control instructed ‘QUEBEC 4’ to respond to a fire outbreak at Nima, near Belling Bridge. Without hesitation, the appliance was deployed in under a minute. Navigating the narrow, obstructed routes of the Nima neighbourhood is never easy, but we managed to reach the scene in under six minutes.
On arrival, we informed Master Control that it was a domestic fire that was still in progress and requested that they remain on standby for further information. As detailed by the Officer in Charge (OIC), I took the branch and was ready at the scene to attack the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjoining structures.
However, as I advanced, I began receiving electric shocks, one common hazard we face as firefighters in slums; however, this was sharply painful and increasingly dangerous.
I immediately informed my OIC of the situation, urging him to request the assistance of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) to cut power supply to the area.
Each time I was electrocuted, I relayed the urgency of the matter again. Frustration and fury surged through me as I kept on trying to prevent the fire from spreading; despite over thirty minutes of repeated calls, the electricity power remained on. Yet I refused to retreat entirely.
Alongside Senior Ankrah, we continued our efforts to contain the fire and protect neighbouring lives and properties, while my ardent juniors, Panford and Amoah, tried fighting from the other side of the building but had to retreat due to the intensity of the shock.
The situation worsened, as Nima, known for its high density and occasional interference with emergency response, became even more chaotic. Crowds formed, and the threat of mob attacks loomed.
Despite repeated warnings about the danger of electrocution, two individuals attempted to pick up the hose after several warnings. Tragically, they picked up the hose I had just abandoned due to electric shocks. Within moments, one of them was fatally electrocuted, while the other cried out for help. I was heavily shocked again when I tried to take back the branch.
In a desperate bid to save them, I ran back to the appliance to ask that the pump be knocked off and immediately called for police and ambulance assistance. But not long after, lamenting and cautioning those around on reasons they are to stay away while we carry out our mandate as per taught, I felt myself losing consciousness.
I was rushed to the police hospital, where thankfully, I was resuscitated and discharged the following day. May the souls of the two rest in peace.
The firefighter has since expressed his appreciation to all and sundry, including his crew members, who showed genuine concern throughout his ordeal.”
The post has since incited conversations about the life-threatening nature of the duties of the firefighters, with many applauding him for his resilience and passion for his job.
