Mitchell’s Plain police are investigating the deaths of two men who got stuck in a manhole in Rocklands.
The body of the second man who disappeared down the manhole in Sea Otter Street, was recovered at 6.03am on Wednesday October 12, almost 20 hours after the first body was extricated by rescue workers at 12.30pm on Tuesday October 11.
Mitchell’s Plain police station spokesman Captain Ian Williams said the body was taken to the mortuary.
According to SAPS Western Cape spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk police were called out to a drowning at the scene where construction workers were busy working in a man hole.
One worker went to retrieve a “bladder” also known as a suction bag which had become stuck.
“When he tried to exit the manhole he collapsed. His co-worker then attempted to rescue him, but was overcome by the gases.
“He collapsed while trying to get out. A third person, identified as the foreman, attempted to rescue the second man, but was forced to abandon his rescue attempt due to the fumes. He managed to raise the alarm,” said Captain Van Wyk.
Fire and rescue teams, including the SAPS’s diving unit, were able to retrieve the bodies.
The foreman rushed to hospital before the fire and rescue services arrived on the scene. He is still in hospital.
An inquest docket has been registered and the police are investigating the drowning.
Anyone with information can call investigating officer Detective Warrant Officer Vuyan Claassen, from Mitchell’s Plain police station’s crime investigation department on 021 370 1680.