Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos with his father, Bert.

"Though I lost everything, I'm still blessed, and God is good."

So said Chad le Clos, a week after fire razed his Sea Point flat to the ground and killed his 93-year-old neighbour.

City fire and rescue services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said the blaze broke out at about 3.30pm on the top floor of the Dorchester apartment block in High Level Road, where the swimmer had lived for more than a decade.

Carelse said firefighters from several stations were called in as the flames spread through the building.