Roland Sakhawang | Memorial Site for Roland Sakhawang | Source: Twitter.com/cassiezervos | Youtube.com/7news
The day was normal for a father preparing for a family barbecue when suddenly his backyard caught on fire. Their three-year old son died in the ensuing fire.
Roland Sakhawang was the focal point of his Burmese family’s attention. He was the youngest of his four siblings and a happy boy. He lived with his parents in Melbourne, Australia.
He was just about to turn four years old and was beloved by his siblings. Roland was unable to speak, but he didn’t miss a chance for his parents to laugh. He was outside playing in the garden on Saturday morning. Unexpected events occurred.
The Family Dinner
Siam Sakhawang Roland, his father, made the decision to grill a barbecue in his backyard on September 24, 2022 for dinner. Roland was home while his wife and three kids were at a nearby parish church.
Siam started preparing dinner that evening. He was unaware of the terrible incident that would quickly make him panic.. Siam returned to the house after Roland had lit the barbecue pit.
He then went into the bathroom and planned to return to his backyard as soon as he saw something. The strange yellow light that was shining through the bathroom windows caught his attention. Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia
Siam Sakhawang. | Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia
The Missing Child
Siam ran outside to find Roland in no time. But the boy was not there. Siam’s neighbors heard a loud explosion. They saw smoke coming from Siam’s backyard.
After extinguishing flames, firefighters located Roland but it was too late.
Roland’s mother, and his siblings arrived a few minutes later ReturnWe were stunned to discover that we had returned home Flames rising from the shed. After they began to cry and shout for help, their neighbors and passersby ran to their home with water hoses.Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia
Siam Sakhawang during an interview. | Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia
The Horror Scene
Soon, firefighters ArrivedWhile the Sakhawangs prayed for Roland’s safety, they began putting out the terrible fire. They hoped the firefighters would safely extinguish the fire, but fate had other plans.
The firefighters FoundAfter putting out the flames Roland, but It was too late. The shed was the final resting place for the little boy, and his parents and siblings were devastated.
Police car outside Siam’s house.Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia | Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia
Tributes
The shock at Roland’s sudden death left the whole community stunned. They PayedA tribute to the little boy Leave teddy bearsSiam planned to be outside his house and mourn his death for two more weeks according to Burmese tradition. Siam :
“He made everyone who met him very happy.”
“One specific trend he likes is that he loved watching birthday cake cutting videos,” Siam Additional. Roland’s death was something that the father could not have imagined. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by detectives. However, they aren’t suspicious.
Roland Sakhawang’s Memorial Site.Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia | Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia
The Reaction
Netizens shared support messages for Roland’s family, friends, and neighbors. Below are some comments from Daily Mail’s Facebook page about this heartbreaking incident.
“God bless little man Roland. My deepest sympathy to the family. Truly heartbreaking.”
― (@Gerrie Mannion) September 26, 2022
“Rip, little boy! May the family find comfort in these most difficult times! So sorry for your loss.”
― (@Rose Talastas Calaguas) September 26, 2022
“This is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to the family.”
― (@Rose Barnes Shallcross) September 26, 2022
“Oh no! It breaks my heart! Rest in heavenly peace, precious little one.”
― (@Pamela Gibson) September 26, 2022Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia
Siam Sakhawang. | Source: Youtube.com/9 News Australia
Another Boy
Two months ago, a similar tragedy occurred when a Georgia family was vacationing at an Oklahoma lakehouse. Josh Ingram, the father, packed his belongings and headed home. However, Briggs Ingram, the son of a Georgia family, wandered into the lake unsupervised.
Ingram noticed his son was gone a few moments later. He turned towards the lake to find his son. The shirt of a little boy floating in the water. Briggs was saved by Ingram who quickly jumped into the water.
Ingram was a certified firefighter and knew how CPR works. Ingram’s father, a paramedic, performed CPR on his son for 30 minutes in the hope that he would survive.
Too Soon
The little boy’s brain began to stop healing, and things turned sour. Five days later, Briggs shut his eyes for good.His parents were left devastated. A statement was released by the fire department. :
“We are heartbroken for our brother firefighter and friend Captain Josh Ingram and his entire family for the loss of their son on Friday.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Roland and Briggs ― the little angels who lost their lives too soon. We offer our deepest condolencesTo the families grieving the sudden death of these children.
Click here to see another story about an Ohioan who planned the burial for his grandkids, after his family had lost everything in a house-fire.