adminMasvingo Correspondent
A 63-YEAR-OLD man and his son from Triangle in Chiredzi, Masvingo allegedly suffocated while trying to draw water from a well using a water pump engine.The incident confirmed by Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Peter Zhanero yesterday, happened on Friday at about 3pm.
He identified the two as Philemon Sumbami and his son, Alimon (28) of Mahenyele Village. The pair’s bodies were taken to Chiredzi District Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.
He said on the fateful day, Philemon and Alimon went to fetch water from a well, a short distance from their homestead.
“On the day in question Philemon and Alimon went to fetch water from a well and they took an engine which they wanted to use to draw water from the well. The well is 10 metres deep and a metre in diameter,” said Insp Zhanero.
He said the two put the engine a few metres down the well.
“The two used some poles on which they were putting the engine before lowering it using a rope. Alimon got into the well where the engine was and started the machine,” said Insp Zhanero.
He said the engine started to produce fumes leading to Alimon suffocating.
“When Alimon started the engine, the machine produced carbon dioxide that chocked him. He fell and drowned in the well. He could also have died due to poor ventilation within the well,” said Insp Zhanero.
On realising that his son was suffocating, Philemon got into the well apparently to rescue him but he also suffocated.
“A moment later villagers who had become suspicious attended the scene and found the two bodies floating. They teamed up and retrieved the bodies,” he said.
Online Reporter