Cover image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
A victim of the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights has shared her harrowing experience of the day she and her family lost their home
Elizabeth Mae, better known online as Lizzy, a local cosplayer with over 22,000 followers on Instagram, took to social media to recount the terrifying moments she and her family endured when the explosion occurred just outside their corner-lot home on 1 April.
"As some of you may already know, my family and I were deeply affected by the Putra Heights gas explosion a few days ago. Our house was very near the explosion. All I can say is, the experience that day just felt so scary and surreal," she wrote on Sunday, 6 April.
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
Elizabeth shared that she was startled awake by her father's urgent shouting at 8am on the public holiday
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
"I woke up to my dad shouting, 'WAKE UP. FIRE! FIRE!'. When I opened my eyes, I saw bits and pieces of the roof already falling," she said.
In a panic, she fled the house with only the shirt on her back.
"I literally ran out immediately without taking my phone, without even putting on shorts — luckily, I was wearing an oversized tee," she recalled.
She described how she and her mother made it outside first, but the intense heat from the flames was overwhelming.
"It was unbearable, I can't even describe it, but it felt like we were about to die. We both actually thought it was the end for us," she said.
During the chaos, Elizabeth lost her slippers and ended up running into a neighbour's house for help
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
The family, thankfully, gave her a pair and asked her to follow them as they drove to safety.
Unfortunately, this led to a horrible moment for her mother, who thought Elizabeth had been left behind.
"My mum apparently turned back and ran toward the fire because she thought she lost me. She fell in the process, that's why her condition is worse. I felt so bad," she wrote.
At the time of her post, Elizabeth's mother was still in the hospital with severe burns to her arms, legs, and face.
Elizabeth herself sustained burns to her leg, while her father escaped unharmed after attempting to save some valuables and their car.
Adding to the family's emotional toll was the temporary loss of their beloved dog, who went missing during the fire
Thankfully, she was found and rescued by the Fire and Rescue Department.
"We were all so worried, so it was such a relief when we saw the video of the bomba rescuing her.
"She was very traumatised when we picked her up from the vet, but she's slowly doing better now," Elizabeth wrote.
She also took the opportunity to clarify online misinformation, explaining that the dog had never been tied up — the leash seen in the video was used by the rescue team.
Meanwhile, she also thanked Yeoh Veterinary Clinic and Surgery for their care and support.
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
When it came to the state of their home, Elizabeth revealed that the inspections team labelled it as a "total loss"
While some items in her parents' and brother's rooms were still salvageable, the cosplayer said she lost everything.
"My room and everything I owned in it — clothes, cosplays, makeup, PC, all my files in my hard disks, and my entire merchandise collection — was completely gone.
"Even the other two rooms that had some of my stuff, such as booth materials and other collections, were also completely burnt," she said.
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
Image via Elizabeth Mae (Facebook)
At the end of her post, Elizabeth admitted that she feels lost, unsure of what to do next as she and her family navigates the aftermath of the tragedy
"I'm honestly still not over it. Whenever I look at my room, I just feel like breaking down. I miss it, I miss my house, I miss my stuff. But I'm just grateful that my family and I are okay," she said.
Finally, she shared that she might start a fundraiser to help herself and her family rebuild their lives, but in the meantime, she shared her banking details for those who wish to contribute financially.
