Firefighters find 2 bodies in flooded building basement in Pretoria CBD

Two bodies were discovered floating in the basement of 158 GPG building on the corner of Bosman and Pretorius streets in the Pretoria CBD yesterday morning.

The bodies were found during an emergency call to put out a fire at the premises, however, Tshwane Emergency Services (EMS) says there was no fire at the scene.

According to Tshwane EMS spokesperson Charles Mabaso, they received a report about a building on fire at 04:32. However, firefighters said the building was not on fire.

“There was a man who had fallen to the basement of the building through a lift shaft.

“Police on the scene requested emergency services personnel to assist with lights and providing access to the victim,” says Mabaso.

He said a basement garage door was cut open and a step ladder was used to reach the man.

“The male patient was rescued, treated and transported to hospital in a stable condition,” Mabaso says.

He explains that when the firefighters were searching the building, they found two decomposed bodies floating in the water in a lift shaft.

He says the scene was immediately declared a crime scene by the SAPS.

“Emergency services remained on scene to assist with the recovery of the two bodies.”

Police are investigating, says Mabaso.

Comment from the SAPS had not been received at the time of publishing.