Young boy's lucky escape after father rescues him from house fire
A brave dad who plucked his little boy from his burning bedroom at their Adelaide home says he was 60 seconds away from losing both of his children.
The family claims faulty wiring in their rental property triggered the inferno at the Para Hills property, but investigators are adamant a lighter was the cause.
Hayden Hewett heard his five-year-old son, Koopa, screaming for help shortly after sunrise on Saturday.
"I don't really know how to describe that feeling, I've never felt anything like that before. Terrifying. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone," Mr Hewett said.
As flames tore up the wall, Koopa tried to escape but could not.
"Well because, you see, the children have the locks on the doors so then they don't get out at night to eat through the fridge," his father explained.
Mr Hewett barged through the door, grabbing his son and then his three-year-old daughter, Ivy.
Koopa had been left with severe burns and was rushed to a neighbour's shower.
"He was screaming, I still can't get the scream ... it's still stuck. I reckon anywhere up to another 60 seconds and I could've lost both children," Mr Hewett recalled.
Despite second-degree burns to his arms and neck, Koopa is already on the mend.
"He's very chirpy and he's very happy and he was scoffing his lunch," his aunt, Kirstie Hewett, revealed.
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The Metropolitan Fire Service says fire cause investigators have determined the blaze was started by a child playing with a lighter - a common accident but one they see far too often.
"Well did they find a lighter, a melted lighter? Like they need to get evidence," Ms Hewett questioned.
Mr Hewett says his son has denied causing the fire after repeatedly being questioned on the incident.
"He keeps telling me he woke up and saying, 'Dad I woke up and there was fire'," Mr Hewett said.
