Desperate shoppers tried to save workers
Shoppers have told how they grabbed toolboxes and bags to use as makeshift water buckets as three electrical contractors ran screaming and on fire from a burning building at Galleria Shopping Centre in Morley yesterday.
A 30-year-old man died instantly in the fire, which happened inside an electrical switch room about 9.30am.
Matt Hutchins, who had burns to about 80 per cent of his body, died several hours later in Royal Perth Hospital.
The other two victims were last night listed as critical, with 50 to 60 per cent burns.
Witnesses said the three workers came running out of the building covered in flames from head to toe. One was trying to pull his burning shirt off as he ran.
Jonathon McDonagh said he had just arrived at the centre to go shopping when he saw the men run out.
He searched in vain in one of the contractors' vehicles for a fire extinguisher before taking off his own shirt to try to smother flames on one of the men.
Mr McDonagh said another man turned on a nearby fire hydrant and then - with the help of others - started carting water to the victims.
"The fella I was putting out, he was crying on the ground . . . the three of them were screaming as they came out the door," he said. "Their clothes were burning and sticking to them.
"At one stage, I looked at the fella I was helping and I could see through his trousers to his leg and his leg was on fire. It was horrific."
It is understood the victims were carrying out repair work on high-voltage equipment inside the switch room, which had been damaged during recent storms.
The cause of the fire is still unclear, but witnesses described hearing what sounded like a rush of air and then a bang similar to a car exploding.
Heather Barugh said she and her husband Harry had been walking across the shopping centre carpark when they heard a loud "whoosh".
"I thought a car had exploded but it was a lot worse than that, it was the worst sight I've ever seen," Mr Barugh said.
Layla Harrison said it was lucky that a medical centre was close by and doctors quickly took charge of the injured.
"They grabbed whatever equipment they had and ran over . . . but by the time they arrived the ambulances were there, too," she said.
"It was quite amazing to see everyone out there helping."
Store owners said there had been several power outages at the shopping centre in the past week and they believed the contractors had been there trying to fix the problem.
Sections of the shopping centre were evacuated after the incident and the Woolworths and Target mall was closed for the day.
The injured men were either employed or subcontracted by Wangara-based electrical repair firm High Energy Service.
General manager Brad Mitchell said it was a tragic day for the company and their focus was now on supporting the victims and their relatives.
"This is a truly tragic day and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased persons, and those of the injured employees," he said.
"Our staff are currently working with DFES to ensure the site is safe. We will be fully co-operating with all the relevant authorities in their investigations and will be conducting our own investigation."
Police, WorkSafe and Energy Safety will each be involved in the investigation.
