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Girlfriend of firefighter who died in Hong Kong blaze says her 'superhero has finished his mission'
The pair were due to be married in December.
November 28, 2025, 05:37 PM
The girlfriend of Ho Wai Ho, the “dedicated and gallant” fireman who lost his life battling Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court fire on Nov. 26, has paid tribute to his memory before stepping away from her social media.
'Kryptonian' mission
On Nov. 27, Ho’s girlfriend posted on her Instagram, thanking those who had expressed concern for her and Ho.
The pair were due to be married in December, after a 10-year courtship.
In her post, she said how proud she was of Ho, calling him her “superhero”.
She said her “superhero has finished his mission and returned to Krypton”, referencing the home planet of Superman.
Ho’s girlfriend then said that she would be taking a break from social media, as she was unable to accept what had happened, and that she longed to hold Ho’s hand once more.
Accompanying the post was a black-and-white picture of Ho and a pet dog.
Heartbroken city
Ho had been part of Hong Kong's fire department for nine years.
The 37-year-old was found unconscious after having become uncontactable while fighting the inferno.
He was rushed to hospital but eventually passed away.
Commenters on his girlfriend's post shared their sympathy, calling on her to “hang in there” and to stay strong.
Many also paid tribute to Ho, saying that he was the pride of Hong Kong, and that the whole city was heartbroken.
Rescue operations over
The Wang Fuk Court fire started on Nov. 26 and burned overnight until the dawning hours of Nov. 27.
Reuters reported that the death toll has climbed to 128 people, with a further 200 people still missing.
Hong Kong’s Secretary of Security Chris Tang told reporters that the fire has been totally extinguished, and that the rescue operation was "over".
The fire services now aim to lower the buildings’ temperature in order to allow police to collect evidence and conduct further investigation.
Three construction company executives were arrested on Nov. 27 in connection with the fire, with authorities accusing them of being “grossly negligent”.
The eight tower blocks affected were undergoing renovation.
However, initial investigations have suggested that the additional netting that supplemented the bamboo scaffolding around the building was not fireproof as regulations required, and that there may have been polystyrene used around the building’s windows, which are also in contravention of regulations.
Top image via @carter1211/Instagram
