An inmate at the Middelburg Correctional Services facility in Hoop Street, Mpumalanga, died yesterday when he apparently slipped and fell while unblocking a drain.

A reliable source reported the incident to the Middelburg Observer.

At the time, police were on the scene investigating the freak accident which claimed the man’s life.

According to correctional services, the offender was apparently unblocking a drain in the prison facility when he slipped and fell.

Attempts to rescue him from the drain were unsuccessful and he unfortunately died.

It’s not yet clear if the man drowned in the blocked drain or died from other injuries.

Correctional services is tracing the man’s family to inform them of the accident.

An empty ambulance was seen driving away from the prison grounds, where correctional services personnel gathered outside.

Police declined to comment on the scene and no formal police or correctional services reports have been compiled or released yet.

An investigation has been launched.