William Li has struggled with the label hero since helping his neighbours 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 neighbours - 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. Already, it has been revealed that non-fire resistant netting had been fitted around the building, and the fire alarms were not working properly.
The fact alarms did not go off was the reason why Mr Li was not more worried when his wife called to tell him a fire had started in their building, Wang Cheong House. Instead of rushing, he spent almost 10 minutes packing belongings. But the moment he opened the door, the extent of the disaster was all too clear: he was engulfed in billowing smoke and had to retreat inside his flat. On the other end of the phone, his wife became hysterical, but Mr Li didn't have time to panic.
He had to put wet towels under the door to stop the smoke from getting in, and tried to work out what to do next. It was then he heard voices in the corridor, where the air was now so dense with smoke he was unable to see who was calling out. Covering his face with a wet towel, he found two of his neighbours by touch, dragging the couple inside to the relative safety of his flat.
In a neighbouring block, Bai Shui Lin was also trying to help her neighbours. The 66-year-old is thought to have saved at least three families, banging on their doors to warn them of the fire. Mrs Bai did not survive, however. Her sons identified her body at the weekend. Back in Mr Li's flat, the middle-aged couple revealed they had heard another voice in the corridor: a domestic worker calling for an elderly woman. But now, the voice had gone quiet. This time, Mr Li was unable to help.
I feel very guilty, he said. Some people weren't saved and I didn't open my door again and try to find them.
The investigation into the fire continues as survivors share their harrowing experiences, with many seeking answers about the tragedy that has forever changed their lives. Mr Li, despite his trauma, has chosen to speak out, hoping that sharing his story will help uncover the truth and deliver justice for the victims of Wang Fuk Court.
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 neighbours - 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. Already, it has been revealed that non-fire resistant netting had been fitted around the building, and the fire alarms were not working properly.
The fact alarms did not go off was the reason why Mr Li was not more worried when his wife called to tell him a fire had started in their building, Wang Cheong House. Instead of rushing, he spent almost 10 minutes packing belongings. But the moment he opened the door, the extent of the disaster was all too clear: he was engulfed in billowing smoke and had to retreat inside his flat. On the other end of the phone, his wife became hysterical, but Mr Li didn't have time to panic.
He had to put wet towels under the door to stop the smoke from getting in, and tried to work out what to do next. It was then he heard voices in the corridor, where the air was now so dense with smoke he was unable to see who was calling out. Covering his face with a wet towel, he found two of his neighbours by touch, dragging the couple inside to the relative safety of his flat.
In a neighbouring block, Bai Shui Lin was also trying to help her neighbours. The 66-year-old is thought to have saved at least three families, banging on their doors to warn them of the fire. Mrs Bai did not survive, however. Her sons identified her body at the weekend. Back in Mr Li's flat, the middle-aged couple revealed they had heard another voice in the corridor: a domestic worker calling for an elderly woman. But now, the voice had gone quiet. This time, Mr Li was unable to help.
I feel very guilty, he said. Some people weren't saved and I didn't open my door again and try to find them.
The investigation into the fire continues as survivors share their harrowing experiences, with many seeking answers about the tragedy that has forever changed their lives. Mr Li, despite his trauma, has chosen to speak out, hoping that sharing his story will help uncover the truth and deliver justice for the victims of Wang Fuk Court.
