New tragedy in Kocani: Ambulance driver, who spent whole day saving lives after catastrophic fire, dies

Photo: Facebook/Ile Gocevski

North Macedonian media are reporting that Ile Gocevski, an ambulance driver who spent the whole of Sunday transporting those the injured in a catastrophic nightclub fire in Kocani, has died.

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Colleagues from the General Hospital in that town, where Gocevski worked, received the news in shock and disbelief. On Sunday, like any other day, Gocevski did his duty, transporting patients and doing his best to help those who needed it the most.

After a hard and long day, he returned home, but unfortunately did not wake up.

He will be remembered as a dedicated and professional man, always ready to help, regardless of time and conditions. His dedication to work and the way the approached patients will be remembered by his colleagues and all who knew him.

Photo: Facebook/Ile Gocevski

This sudden loss is a heavy blow to his family, friends and colleagues, who are saying goodbye to him today with great sadness.

A Telegraf.rs crew is in Kocani, where they last night recorded distressing scenes.

At least 59 people died in the fire that broke out in the night between Saturday and Sunday in the Pulse night club in this North Macedonia town.

The youngest victim was only 14 years old. At least 1,500 people were injured and taken to hospitals in Kocani, Stip and Skopje. At the time the fire broke out, a band called DNA was on stage. Some of its members were among those who died, while the injured were taken to hospitals.

There were at least 500 people in the nightclub when the fire started. Videos are circulating on the internet showing people partying as sprinklers are activated near the stage. At one point, the sparks started reaching the ceiling, which then caught on fire.

The panicked guests tried to put out the blaze that was engulfing the roof with lightning speed.

According to North Macedonia's interior minister, the owner of the nightclub had a forged operating permit for the venue. So far, 15 people have been detained, including government officials, while some of the suspects were injured in the fire and are currently hospitalized. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of four more persons.

Witnesses of the horror say that what they saw was extremely shocking.

Serbia has declared March 18 a day of mourning for the Kocani victims.

Serbia on Sunday also sent medical teams and helicopters, which during the evening transported a number of seriously injured people from North Macedonia to Belgrade.

(Telegraf.rs)