Political secretary’s son dies hours after pyjamas catches fire

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Andrew (right) being consoled by (from second left) councillor Wong Hie Ping, Soon Koh and Lau.

Andrew (right) being consoled by (from second left) councillor Wong Hie Ping, Soon Koh and Lau.

SIBU: The only son of a political secretary to the Chief Minister was killed yesterday after his pyjamas caught fire when he was handling a lighter.

Thaddeus Jinggut – the 15-year-old son of Andrew Shilling – died due to burns to 82 per cent of his body.

In the 2am tragedy, the Form Three student of SMK Ulu Sungai Merah was rushed to Sibu Hospital and was wheeled into the Intensive Care Unit, where he died at 4pm.

Andrew, who is also the head of UPP Bawang Assan branch’s Bumiputra Unit, told reporters that Thaddeus used to go online or play computer games late at night in their house at Ulu Teku Barat Road during the weekend.

The computer is on the ground floor, while family members sleep upstairs.

It is unclear what Thaddeus was using the lighter for and how his pyjamas caught fire as a result.

Andrew said he and his wife were already asleep while Thaddeus was downstairs, supposedly surfing online or playing computer games.

“He could have screamed when his pyjamas caught fire, but we were already asleep. Thaddeus struggled out of the house by opening the front door.”

He said his son doused the fire on him with a water hose in the garage.

“A neighbour heard and saw Thaddeus on fire and called me. When I rushed out, Thaddeus was already badly burnt. We rushed him to the hospital.”

Andrew said his son was initially put on red alert in the Accident and Emergency Ward.

“He was still conscious then. Three hours later, he was transferred to the ICU.”

Andrew said Thaddeus’ heart stopped beating in the morning, but was revived through CPR. He died at 4pm.

Thaddeus’ body has been taken to the family’s longhouse in Penasu in Bawang Assan, where Andrew’s mother stays. He will be buried today at Nirvana Memorial Park.

He left behind his parents and two elder sisters.

Consoling Andrew’s family yesterday were UPP chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, political secretary to the Chief Minister Pau Kiew Chuan, UPP Pelawan branch chairperson Kapitan Datuk Janet Lau, councillor Wong Hie Ping, and several UPP members.