William Li has struggled with the label 'hero' since helping his neighbors escape the fire which engulfed the Hong Kong block of flats he had called home since birth. Instead, he is haunted by guilt that he could have saved more people from the blaze at Wang Fuk Court, which left at least 159 people dead. 'My heart breaks every time someone calls me a hero,' says the 40-year-old, breaking down in tears.
A week on from the disaster, firefighters are still combing the complex of seven burnt-out high rises for the remains of 30 of Mr. Li's neighbors - people who, like him, had the misfortune to be at home when the deadly fire began.
What caused the fire to start, and why more people did not escape, is now the subject of an independent committee's investigation, ordered by Hong Kong's Chief Executive. It has been revealed that non-fire resistant netting had been fitted around the building and that the fire alarms were not functioning properly.
The fire alarms not going off meant Mr. Li wasn't overly worried when his wife called to tell him a fire had started. He spent almost 10 minutes packing belongings, only to later be engulfed in smoke when he opened the door. As Mr. Li tried to understand the situation, he found two neighbors in dire need and helped them to safety.
Another neighbor, Bai Shui Lin, attempted to warn her neighbors but did not survive. Her son expressed regret, feeling if he had acted sooner, she may have lived. Meanwhile, Mr. Li reflected on voices he heard which went silent, leading him to feel immense guilt.
Hours after the fire began, Mr. Li was finally rescued by firefighters, but the emotional scars were deep. He recounted the sense of loss, stating that it felt like death had become personal to him. After being admitted to the hospital, he found the strength to face the traumatic events he had endured, vowing to seek justice for the residents affected by the tragedy.
A week on from the disaster, firefighters are still combing the complex of seven burnt-out high rises for the remains of 30 of Mr. Li's neighbors - people who, like him, had the misfortune to be at home when the deadly fire began.
What caused the fire to start, and why more people did not escape, is now the subject of an independent committee's investigation, ordered by Hong Kong's Chief Executive. It has been revealed that non-fire resistant netting had been fitted around the building and that the fire alarms were not functioning properly.
The fire alarms not going off meant Mr. Li wasn't overly worried when his wife called to tell him a fire had started. He spent almost 10 minutes packing belongings, only to later be engulfed in smoke when he opened the door. As Mr. Li tried to understand the situation, he found two neighbors in dire need and helped them to safety.
Another neighbor, Bai Shui Lin, attempted to warn her neighbors but did not survive. Her son expressed regret, feeling if he had acted sooner, she may have lived. Meanwhile, Mr. Li reflected on voices he heard which went silent, leading him to feel immense guilt.
Hours after the fire began, Mr. Li was finally rescued by firefighters, but the emotional scars were deep. He recounted the sense of loss, stating that it felt like death had become personal to him. After being admitted to the hospital, he found the strength to face the traumatic events he had endured, vowing to seek justice for the residents affected by the tragedy.
