Deadly incident at Tsumeb: Man dies after ingesting dangerous chemical

A Namibian man (34) died after allegedly consuming a harmful chemical at Tsumeb in the Oshikoto region over the weekend.

According to the region’s crime investigation coordinator, deputy commissioner Titus Ekandjo, the man died at around 09h00 on Saturday.

“It is alleged that on Friday at around 12h00 at the deceased’s residence in Nomtsoub, a family member overheard the deceased saying he drank limescale remover, which is a harmful chemical,” says Ekandjo.

The limescale remover was bought by one of the family members to clean the house, he says.

“The family rushed him to the Tsumeb Lombard State Hospital, where he was admitted and passed away,” Ekandjo adds.

According to a family member, the deceased was experiencing depression, says Ekandjo.

The body will undergo post-mortem examination.

The man’s next of kin have been informed, as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, also in the Oshikoto region, three people died instantly at around 21h21 on Saturday when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with another car at Uuhama village.

Ekandjo says the three deceased, aged between 21 and 43, have been identified as residents of the Ongha and Onambango villages in the Ohangwena region.

“It is alleged that their white pickup, with an Ondangwa registration number, was travelling from Omuthiya towards Ondangwa when it reportedly struck a donkey, causing the vehicle to lose control and, in the process collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle with an Oshakati registration number,” says Ekandjo.

All the occupants in the pickup vehicle died on the scene.

The driver of the other car, a Namibian male (65), as well as a nine-year-old boy from the Oshiyashomatope village, did not sustain any injuries, while a woman (60) from the same village fractured both arms.

The bodies of the deceased were transported to the Omuthiya police mortuary for post-mortem examinations to be conducted.

Their next of kin are yet to be informed. – Nampa