One dead, several escape alive as mining pit collapses

On Saturday the police in North West District were called to investigate the incident of a mining pit which collapsed and killed a 21 year old worker.

Dead is Deon Henry an indigenous resident of Triangle Backdam, Baramita, North West District.

BIG Smith was told by police sources that sometime during the course of mid Saturday morning, the young man and others were working in the pit when it collapsed.

It was related that the pit which is approximately 300 feet off the Triangle access road is owned and operated by a businessman who has several employees who were in the pit at the time.

Police sources have indicated that while in the 20feet depth and 80 feet wide pit, Henry was working close to the eastern wall when it suddenly collapsed.

The others who were in the pit managed to escape the collapsing wall and then rushed to the assistance of the 21 year old but when they finally got to him, he was not breathing.

Efforts were made to revive him but those proved futile and the police were subsequently called in and they commenced their investigations.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the various mining syndicates have been calling on persons to ensure that they practice safe mining but there still continues to be a number of mining related deaths in the hinterland locations.

The body of the deceased has been taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital morgue and a postmortem is expected to be performed on it later this week.