SUNGAI PETANI: No amount of words could describe how grateful Rosefakhzan Saleh Mohammad is to contractor Oon Thoo Seen for saving his wife in a car accident.

The factory worker, 38, said he wanted to thank Oon personally for coming to their aid at Km14 of Jalan Pengkalan Hulu-Gerik in Gunung Paku, Ipoh.

“I dread what could have happened if Oon didn’t smash the car window with his axe.

Recovering from surgery: Rosefakhzan with his son Mohd Aqil Hazim at the hospital ward during the interview. .

“A fire from another car was spreading to ours where my wife was unconscious.

“Without him, I might have lost my wife.

“I cannot wait to meet up with him, and I want to thank him over and over again,” said Rosefakhzan, who is recovering from a surgery to remove fluid from his lungs at the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital. .

During Thursday’s 2pm accident, Rosefakhzan’s car collided head-on with a Perodua Alza which caught fire.

It was then Oon, 66, sprang into action by breaking the car window to pull Rosefakhzan’s wife Sri Nursuzawilati Mat Noh, 37, out from their Proton Saga BLM.

Oon has since become an Internet sensation and pictures of him in action as well as stories of his bravery have since gone viral on social media.

Scene of the accident

Netizens have called him an unsung hero and even thanked him for his courage and for risking his life to rescue the woman from certain death.

Oon was earlier quoted as saying when he found the car door jammed, he quickly retrieved an axe from his car and broke the window, without realising a fire was spreading from the other mangled car.

Rosefakhzan said he was travelling from Arau, Perlis, with his family to his hometown in Tumpat, Kelantan, to celebrate Hari Raya Aidil Adha.

Along the way, he said they had missed a turning and decided to use the alternative route.

“Unfortunately, we got into an accident. But we are blessed that Oon was at the scene,” he said.

Sri Nursuzawilati is warded at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital’s intensive care unit for three broken ribs and serious abdominal injuries.

Their two children - Mohd Aqil Hazim, nine, suffered minor bruises while Nur Naurah Qaisara, five, is still traumatised after the accident.

Passengers in the Alza, a soldier, his wife and child, from Gerik, had minor injuries.