It is now six days since that horrific afternoon at Dusit D2 Hotel complex where six gunmen forced their way into the building and started shooting haphazardly. At the end, at least 21 people died while several were injured.
Our security forces have been praised at how they handled the whole situation, were it not for them, the attack could have been worse. But in fact, it is not only the police who were the real heros of the day.
In today’s episode of #DusitHeroes, we bring you the story of Dendrix Lemisi, a brave security guard who died while saving many lives during the siege that brought the whole world to a standstill.
Lemisi worked at the control room, monitoring security cameras at the hotel on that fateful Tuesday afternoon.
When the attack started, the 47 year old father of four had the choice to take the closest exist and run for dear life or stay behind and save life. He chose the tougher choice. He stayed!
He tossed himself into the line of the terrorists’ fire and rescue many helpless civilians who were running up and down in the confusion that ensued.
Meanwhile, those who worked with him at the control room made for the exit and managed to leave the building unharmed.
Armed with only bravery and the determination to save lives, Lemisi went from room to room calling out for people who were stranded and then guiding them out to safety. He had done a heroic job by leading tens of people out of harm’s way. His colleagues even persuaded him not to go back into the chaos in the building.
He defied them.
“He was determined to save as many people as possible,” a colleague of his, who did not wish to be named, a local Daily. By this time, the terrorists had advanced into the building and were now shooting indiscriminately at whoever they came across. A hostage situation was fast building up and hundreds were now trapped in the complex.
In one of the many rooms, Lemisi came upon a woman who was stuck alone. He held her by the hand, hoping to see her off to safety. But the terrorists had spotted the pair and waylaid them. They sprayed bullets at them. The rescuer and his evacuee died on the spot.
The guard, who hailed from Shinyalu in Kakamega County, has been described as a gallant soldier by his employer.