Rush to rescue three electrocuted children futile
Jika Joe resident Mduduzi Lutuli didn't think of his own life when he rushed to the rescue of three boys who were electrocuted in a river at the informal settlement on Saturday.
The tragedy occurred after the young boys had dived into the settlement’s river on Saturday afternoon in Jika Joe, Pietermaritzburg.
A fourth boy (3 years old) raised the alarm after the other boys jumped into the water.
“I asked the three year old why he was running away from the river. He told me that his friends were stuck and weren’t swimming properly. I ran. I didn’t think about my life. I just jumped into the river,” said Luthuli, adding that he suffered electrical shock from the water.
He then shouted for help and his friend cut off the cable that was touching the water.
“I saw the two children and managed to get to them. The community then told me that a third boy was further down the river as his body was washed away. I went to check on him but he was dead.”
After the boys were pulled from the water, the community attempted to help them while waiting for emergency services.
“We tried to feed milk to the other two but it was too late,” said Lutuli.
The Jika Joe community have been left in shock following the death of the three children.
Elderly resident, Amina Ndlovu, said it was a tragic day for the residents. “We were having a normal day and now three of our children have died, just like that. We are heartbroken,” said Ndlovu.
The parents of one of the children were rushed to hospital following the news of his demise. SAPS services was on scene.
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