31.03.2025 16:50
A Turkish citizen, Mesut Zengin, and his 14-year-old son, who noticed a fire in an apartment in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, saved many lives. Mesut Zengin managed to control the flames with fire extinguishers, but he had to spend 2 days in the hospital due to toxic smoke inhalation. The father and son, who became the subject of newspaper headlines, were referred to as "heroes" on social media.
The fire broke out on the balcony of an apartment located on the 4th floor of the Prastgardsvegen neighborhood in Upplands Vasby, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. Mesut Zengin, who left home to take his 14-year-old son Furkan Zengin to training, noticed the flames and intervened in the fire. Mesut Zengin, who entered the apartment building and rescued many of his neighbors, along with his son Furkan Zengin, became the subject of newspaper headlines and was referred to as a "hero" on social media.
"I MADE SURE MY NEIGHBORS GOT OUT"
Zengin, who stated that he came to Sweden from the Kulu district of Konya in 2006, described his experience with the following words: "I live on the first floor. When I noticed the flames on the balcony, I asked my son Furkan to ring the doorbells of all the apartments and inform the neighbors that there was a fire. I also rang the doorbell and knocked on the doors of my neighbors on the 3rd floor to make sure they got out. When I reached the 4th floor where the fire broke out, I rang the doorbell and gave myself 5 seconds. If no one opened the door, there was a large kitchen window, and I would have broken it to get inside. An elderly person opened the door, and I asked them, 'Is there anyone else living inside?' This person said that their spouse was inside. I told both of them to stay calm and informed them that their balcony was on fire and asked them to get outside."
"I FAINTED WHEN I GOT OUT"
Zengin, who stated that his other neighbors gave him two fire extinguishers, said, "I used the fire extinguishers to control the flames. During this time, I inhaled a high amount of smoke, and I fainted when I got outside." he said.
HE RECEIVED TREATMENT IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 2 DAYS
Zengin, who said that the first intervention was made in the ambulance, recounted that his wife and child were in tears when they saw his condition. He reported that he was treated in the hospital for 2 days due to the toxic smoke he inhaled while intervening in the fire, and he expressed that he was well taken care of during his stay in the hospital. Zengin emphasized that Turks have shown themselves to be a benevolent nation. Furkan Zengin noted that he was very scared after seeing his father lying unconscious in the ambulance.
IT BECAME A NEWSPAPER HEADLINE
The reflection of the incident in the newspaper headlines was met with satisfaction in the Turkish community living in the country. Uğur Ergün, the President of the Stockholm Botkyrka Turkish Cultural Association, invited the father and son, who were declared "heroes" in the country, to their association and presented them with a plaque for being an example to the community.