William Li has struggled with the label 'hero' since helping his neighbours escape the fire which engulfed the Hong Kong block of flats he had called home since birth. Instead, he is haunted by guilt that he could have saved more people from the blaze at Wang Fuk Court, which left at least 159 people dead. My heart breaks every time someone calls me a hero, says the 40-year-old, breaking down in tears.
A week on from the disaster, firefighters are still combing the complex of seven burnt-out high rises for the remains of 30 of Mr. Li's neighbours - people who, like him, had the misfortune to be at home when the deadly fire began. What caused the fire to start, and why more people did not escape, is now the subject of an independent committee's investigation, ordered by Hong Kong's chief executive.
Already, it has been revealed that non-fire resistant netting had been fitted around the building, and the fire alarms were not working properly.
The fact alarms did not go off was the reason why Mr. Li was not more worried when his wife called to tell him a fire had started in their building, Wang Cheong House. Instead of rushing, he spent almost 10 minutes packing belongings. But when he opened the door, he was engulfed in smoke and had to retreat inside his flat. It was then he heard voices in the corridor, where the air was now so dense with smoke he was unable to see who was calling out. Covering his face with a wet towel, he found two of his neighbours by touch, dragging the couple inside to the relative safety of his flat.
Another resident, 66-year-old Bai Shui Lin, is thought to have saved at least three families but did not survive herself. Her sons expressed feelings of guilt, saying, If I'd asked her to leave a minute earlier, I think she would have survived.
When Mr. Li was finally rescued by firefighters, he felt reluctant to leave his home filled with cherished memories. After the ordeal, he faced the emotional and physical toll of the experience, seeking to make sense of what happened while also pushing for justice for the victims. Mr. Li hopes that speaking out will encourage others to pursue the truth behind the tragic incident.
A week on from the disaster, firefighters are still combing the complex of seven burnt-out high rises for the remains of 30 of Mr. Li's neighbours - people who, like him, had the misfortune to be at home when the deadly fire began. What caused the fire to start, and why more people did not escape, is now the subject of an independent committee's investigation, ordered by Hong Kong's chief executive.
Already, it has been revealed that non-fire resistant netting had been fitted around the building, and the fire alarms were not working properly.
The fact alarms did not go off was the reason why Mr. Li was not more worried when his wife called to tell him a fire had started in their building, Wang Cheong House. Instead of rushing, he spent almost 10 minutes packing belongings. But when he opened the door, he was engulfed in smoke and had to retreat inside his flat. It was then he heard voices in the corridor, where the air was now so dense with smoke he was unable to see who was calling out. Covering his face with a wet towel, he found two of his neighbours by touch, dragging the couple inside to the relative safety of his flat.
Another resident, 66-year-old Bai Shui Lin, is thought to have saved at least three families but did not survive herself. Her sons expressed feelings of guilt, saying, If I'd asked her to leave a minute earlier, I think she would have survived.
When Mr. Li was finally rescued by firefighters, he felt reluctant to leave his home filled with cherished memories. After the ordeal, he faced the emotional and physical toll of the experience, seeking to make sense of what happened while also pushing for justice for the victims. Mr. Li hopes that speaking out will encourage others to pursue the truth behind the tragic incident.
