Selebi Phikwe man dies in concrete mixer
Tragedy struck GSP Construction Company in Selebi Phikwe last week when one of their employees was accidentally killed by a concrete mixer.
The experienced 24-year-old employee was hired in January this year. It is said that the deceased was attempting to unblock the concrete mixer, which had suddenly stopped working due to a minor fault.
He then entered into the mixer without switching off the power plug and after he managed to fix it, it started to run while he was still inside, giving him no chance to react. The concrete mixer severely injured him and some of his flesh was found trapped in the machine mortar.
Confirming the incident, station commander for Selebi Phikwe Police, Nicholas Kadiata said the accident occurred when employees in the construction company were about to knock off.
'No one was close to the concrete mixer. The electric plug was eventually switched off by one of the colleagues who came running after hearing screams from the mixer,' Kadiata said.
He said upon arrival at the construction site, they found the deceased so severely injured that they could tell he was not alive.
'He was taken to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead upon arrival, post-mortem was later done and his relatives have been contacted and notified about the sudden death,' he said.
Doubtful that there could have been any foul play, Kadiata said the deceased attempted to unblock the concrete mixer while the electric plug was on. However, he said investigations on the issue are still ongoing.