SHAH ALAM - A firefighter from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Fire and Rescue Station in Sepang, recently experienced heat stroke during a rescue operation at a gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.
But, his determination to continue with the mission remained unwavering.
Mohamad Hafizth Omar, 32, who was undertaking his first field operation after eight years of service, explained that he began feeling unwell after working for about half an hour at the scene.
He experienced nausea, shortness of breath and dizziness, yet he chose to continue with the task at hand.
"After half an hour of working at the scene, I started feeling nauseous, short of breath and like I was going to faint, but I pushed myself to continue with the task until it was finished," he shared.
On that day, he was first given the task of searching for and rescuing victims in the explosion zone before focusing on firefighting.
He said that the extreme heat and the heavy personal protective equipment (PPE) made the situation more difficult, leading to a decline in his health.
"While wearing PPE, our movement became restricted and the situation there was very hot and sweltering. To be honest, I was exhausted.
"But the spirit and strength to continue the rescue and firefighting mission motivated me to keep going," he added.
Despite feeling exhausted, he was provided with respiratory assistance and was allowed a 20-minute rest before resuming his duties.
The firefighter’s story gained national attention after images of him sitting and wearing a breathing aid were shared widely on social media.
He admitted that he did not realise what had happened until his wife saw the images, which made her worried about his condition.
"After she found out, she cried. She was worried about me because she could not reach me on the phone as it would overheat quickly in that area," he recalled.
Hafizth said that his involvement in the incident was a meaningful experience, highlighting the rare opportunity to participate in such a challenging situation despite the harsh conditions.