A Durban chef has been labelled a good Samaritan for pulling a woman out of the fire that engulfed Delphi Greek Taverna on Thursday.
The restaurant and a shop situated on Lilian Ngoyi Road were destroyed by the fire. Brent Lindeque, the founder and editor-in-charge at Good Things Guy, said: “We need to find a hero.” Lindeque said that as flames tore through the restaurant, an unknown man saw a family in trouble and did something extraordinary.
“He took off his shirt, poured water over himself and ran into a burning building to rescue a woman trapped inside. And then, once she was safe, he just disappeared,” Lindeque said.
The man has been identified as a local chef from the Windermere Road vicinity. Officials said no injuries were reported, and no persons were found inside the building after the fire was extinguished. Firefighters rescued two dogs and a parrot.
Swift response
The eThekwini Municipality said the Fire Services brought the structural fire under control within approximately 20 minutes. The municipality stated that three fire engines, a water carrier, a foam carrier and a command vehicle were dispatched immediately.
“Crews arrived on scene and found the building well alight, with the fire having already burnt through the roof. Four hose lines were deployed, and four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the structure to fight the blaze at close quarters,” the municipality stated.
The municipality commended the brave men and women of its emergency services for their swift and disciplined response.
A dangerous situation
“Entering a burning building that has already lost its roof is among the most dangerous work our firefighters do, and the speed of the response limited further spread. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this stage and will be investigated by fire safety officers,” the municipality said.
Delphi Greek Taverna has long been regarded as a cherished culinary fixture in Durban, serving generations of locals and visitors alike.
Community reaction
David Badenhorst, a member of the lower Morningside Community Policing Forum, said it was incredibly sad to see such an iconic restaurant and much-loved establishment in Morningside suffer extensive damage and be destroyed by the fire.
“Friends, neighbours and members of the community gathered at the scene to offer their support and comfort to the family during this extremely difficult ordeal. Our thoughts are with the family, staff and everyone affected by this devastating incident. Thank you to the emergency services and all those who responded and assisted at the scene,” Badenhorst said.
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Dining and Cooking