Man dies after being buried alive

Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, with the help of local police, exhumed the body of a man who had been trapped under a pile of soil while looking for metal scraps.

The incident took place on Tuesday morning, June 24, in Knights Road, opposite the Good Hope Informal Settlement.

The rescue team and local police were called to the scene by concerned residents.

Upon their arrival, community members explained that three young men had been digging a trench for scraps of metal when there was a cave in.

“They had dug a deep trench in their search for scraps of metal,” said Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services Media Liaison Officer, William Ntladi. .

“It was then that the wall of soil suddenly collapsed, leaving one of the men buried underground.”

Realising what had happened, the other two men present tried to dig him out but failed.

It was then that the authorities were called for assistance.

Specialised rescue tools and a TLB Tractor, from the nearby mining company, were used to during the operation.

“The conditions were extremely dangerous, as the ground was still unstable,” Ntladi said.

“The team was able to recover the body.”

The man’s body was handed over to local police and forensic pathologists for further investigations.

The community is reminded of the following emergency numbers:

•  Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services: 011 458-0911.

•  National emergency number: 10177.

•  Emergency number for cellphone use: 112.