JOHOR BAHRU: Handicapped powerlifting athlete, Muhammad Ata Maarof was killed in a fire at his family house in Taman Pagoh Jaya, near Muar, yesterday.
Muar district police chief, ACP Zaharudin Rasip said the charred remains of Muhammad Ata, 28, were found in the house in the 11.30am incident.
“(The body of) Muhammad Ata, who was paralysed in an accident five years ago, was found 100 percent charred,’’ he said when contacted by Bernama.
He said the remains had been taken to the Muar Hospital for a post mortem.
Meanwhile, Pagoh Fire and Rescue Station operations officer, Husaini Eddy Mustafa said Muhammad Ata’s body was found in the kitchen of his house, which was 60 percent destroyed.
He said the station received a call on the fire at 11.59am and dispatched 18 firemen from Pagoh and Muar in two fire engines to the scene.
He added that Muhammad Ata’s mother had gone to a shop leaving the athlete alone in the house when the incident took place.
According to Hussaini, Muhammad Ata, who is believed to be a worker at a pizza outlet in Kuala Lumpur, was said to have returned to Muar for a five-day holiday.
Muhammad Ata won a bronze medal in powerlifting at the 19th Para Malaysian Games (Sukma) in Perak two years ago, with a lift of 55 kg in the 65 kg category. – Bernama
