Almost five months have passed since the tragic Dorm Fire at Mahdia, yet the harrowing memories continue to haunt many, particularly Amanda Peters-Nedd, the then Deputy Head Mistress at the Mahdia Secondary School.
Amanda Peters-Nedd, currently the Head Mistress of Uitvlugt Secondary School, took the stand before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Friday.
She vividly recounted the horrifying events of May 22, when the tragedy unfolded.
In the stillness of the night, her husband’s urgent voice shattered the calm, alerting her to commotion at the back door.
She initially assumed it was a scene from a scary movie, but the urgency in her husband’s voice revealed the grim reality – the dormitories were on fire.
As they rushed towards the blaze, they were met with a heartbreaking sight.
Children were fleeing from the burning building, and although there were screams, they were tragically short-lived.
The devastating incident has left an indelible mark on her family.
Her son, a fellow educator, witnessed the loss of eight of his students that fateful night, which led to a severe mental breakdown.
Her husband, too, grappled with the trauma.
His body underwent a complete shutdown, necessitating his emergency transfer from Mahdia to Georgetown for medical care.
He is currently receiving treatment at the psychiatric clinic of the Georgetown Hospital, having been diagnosed with Acute Stress Disorder.
Despite the profound impact on her family, Amanda Peters-Nedd expressed that while her son and husband receive psychosocial support, no one has extended a helping hand to her or her younger children, who were also present during the fire.
The testimonies shared during the Commission of Inquiry underscore the enduring trauma and the pressing need for comprehensive support for those affected by this devastating event.