Firefighters dealing with apartment blaze discover body of dead woman
Mother found dead in junk-filled home after neighbours complain of smell; son survives
Firefighters who broke into a junk-filled flat yesterday found the decomposing body of an elderly woman as well as her semi-conscious son.
They had been called to the Sham Shui Po flat by neighbours who complained of a foul odour and arrived at about 12.30pm to find smoke billowing out.
After breaking down the door they found the body of Tam Yuet-kuen, 76, in one bedroom and her son in another. He was suffering from smoke inhalation.
The Fire Services Department said investigators found the blaze suspicious and the case had been handed over to police.
A spokesman said the rescuers found the son first.
"He had inhaled smoke and felt unwell," he said "The woman's body was then discovered in another bedroom."