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Suffocated by Ash: Hong Kong Fire Survivor's Emotional Return
22 Apr
Summary
- Survivor felt suffocated returning to burnt home, searching for cherished items.
- 168 people died in the fire, eclipsing the Grenfell Tower disaster.
- Despite trauma, survivor finds strength, resumes marathons to cope.
Dorz Cheung, 34, returned to his home engulfed by one of Hong Kong's deadliest fires, experiencing an overwhelming sense of suffocation and emotional distress. The November blaze tragically claimed 168 lives, surpassing the severity of the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster. Authorities recently permitted victims to retrieve belongings from affected residential towers.
Cheung managed to recover personal items like his smartwatch and grandmother's journals, finding solace in preserving memories. He described intense emotions, swinging between anger and sadness, admitting his mental preparations were insufficient. The smell of burning still lingers on clothes, a constant reminder of the tragedy.
Having moved to care for his grandmother during the pandemic, they now reside in temporary housing. She narrowly escaped the fire, alerted by a neighbor after returning to cook. This shared ordeal has deepened their bond, though Cheung acknowledges ongoing struggles with exhaustion and nightmares.
Despite the trauma, Cheung is determined to move forward, viewing the loss as the hardest challenge he will face. He has resumed running marathons as a coping mechanism, emphasizing the necessity of self-care to foster resilience and the ability to support others.
