A man who left his family in a car while he ran to help fight fire, is the country’s celebrated hero. 

Mohammed Waseem jumped out of his family vehicle in his flipflops to attend to the call of duty.  

It was his day off. At a time when civilians were making a run for their lives, 24-year-old Mr. Waseem was seen running to help his firefighter colleagues, who were battling the blaze.  

The inferno razed seven shops in Labasa Town. Just a few minutes earlier, he was driving his family home from hospital when the SOS arrived.  

“We need hands,” a firefighter called out to him.  

He left his family in the car and ran to the scene.  

His wife, Shaista Fareen, said the random act of gallantry caught her by surprise.  

“I sat there with our children, and saw this selfless man rush out to help his comrades, while civilians were running away, their father was running towards danger,” Ms. Fareen said.  

“I had to call around again, call home for someone to drive us, since I don’t have any li­cense.”  

As the country marks Father’s Day on Sunday, Mr. Waseem’s altruistic demonstration has in­spired his daughter to follow in his shoes.  

Viral photo  

Caught off guard yet again, Ms. Fareen learnt in ensuing days Mr. Waseem’s photo was trend­ing online. Dubbed on social media as ‘Man of the Hour’ for his great act of bravery, the young man is celebrated among his peers.  

“I woke up on Wednesday morning, and I no­ticed a picture from Fiji Sun going viral on so­cial media,” Ms. Fareed said.  

Recovering from his heroic deed, Mr. Waseem struggled to walk.  

“I was so super proud of him; he was running barefoot, sacrificing for something he pledged,” Ms. Fareen said.  

“Any firefighter in this sense would do the ex­act same thing.  

“After running back and forth about five times relaying messages to his comrades at the back, they finally contained the fire.” 

Story By: jone.salusalu@fijisun.com.fj