Lucky escape for mother and son after car goes on fire

A MOTHER and her young son had a lucky escape after their car burst into flames in a city centre car park on Saturday.

Debbie Halley, from Maghaberry, was shocked when she returned from shopping with her seven year old son to find her car destroyed after it ignited in the Jordan’s Mill Car Park.

Although it was a shock to find her car burnt out, it was a lucky escape as Debbie explains: “I had returned to the car about half an hour before it went on fire but had forgotten something so went back to get it. Had I not done so I would have been driving at the time with my son in the back and I dare not think of what might have happened. We could have been trapped inside and not been able to get out. It really is terrifying. You just don’t expect cars to go on fire like this.

“It was lucky in a way it happened where it did. The car is parked beside the house so it could have been much worse. We had a lucky escape. I have had old bangers before but this was a relatively new car, but I’m glad to see the back of it now,” added Debbie.

“It seems it was caused by an electrical fault. I’m stuck now without a car until everything is sorted out, but at least we can be thankful that no-one was hurt or injured.”

It was quick thinking by car park attendant Nicky O’Neill who alerted the fire service.

“I was checking on what spaces were available when I noticed a bit of smoke coming from the car,” explained Nicky.

“I saw a bright orange flash coming from underneath the front of the car and I knew right away it was on fire so I called the fire brigade. When you are waiting in this type of situation it seems even longer but the fire crew arrived in about 10 minutes just when it really went up in flames.

“It was very busy so we had to keep people away from their cars until everything was brought under control. It was a terrible shock for the owner, but I think she was more relieved than anything that they were not driving it when it happened.”

A spokesman for the fire service said: “We received a call at 2.15pm on Saturday. One fire crew dealt with an accidental car fire which spread to a black Audi car and caused minor damage to a black Renault Megane car. The incident was dealt with by 2.34pm.”

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