47 years old
Baljit Singh Handorf suffered burns to around 70 per cent of his body after a fire broke out at the Mustard Seed restaurant on Tuesday night and is being treated in the burns unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
According to “Australia Today”, Singh’s family said that when the fire suddenly broke out in the house, Singh did not hesitate to take action.
His brother-in-law Inderjeet Singh told 7News Baljeet pushed his sister Satbir away as the flames spread throughout the building.
Inderjit said: “My brother-in-law…he was full of fire and saved my wife. He was a brave man.”
According to the family, the two walked into the restaurant after hearing unusual noises and a fire broke out.
Inderjit added: “Suddenly a fire broke out… He pushed my wife away and he almost got burned and my wife got burned too.”
Baljit Singh has undergone emergency surgery and doctors are still working to stabilize his condition. His relatives described his injuries as extremely serious and said they were hopeful for his recovery.
“His skin was burned… 70 percent of his body was burned. He is a strong man and we are praying for him,” the family said.
While the family is dealing with the trauma, they are also fighting online rumors that they were involved in starting the fire.
“I feel very sad to face these rumors and speculations,” Inderjit said.
He added: “It’s really devastating because right now we’re going through a lot of pain and mental stress.”
The owner of Mustard Seed says the restaurant is more than just a business, describing it as a second home built on memories and regular customers.
South Australia Police are still investigating the cause of the fire. The family also fears the fire may be suspicious and are urging anyone with information or CCTV footage to assist investigators.