Man suffocates to death while working in 60ft well

By Edwin Cheserek

Elgeyo/Marakwet County

One person has died of suffocation as they dug a borehole in Keiyo North District while another escaped by a whisker.

Philip Kipruto Chesire, 30, succumbed after oxygen ran out in the 60ft hole they had dug.

The incident, which occurred at Bugar village, brought activities to a standstill as residents jammed the scene to rescue Kipruto in vain.

The borehole men, as they are referred to in the village, had dug the hole for almost a week without signs of water.

Villagers said Kipruto was inside the hole scooping the soil so that his colleague, who was outside, would lift it using a rope tied to a container, and empty it.

"His colleague became suspicious when he realised they could no longer communicate," said Andrew Kimeto.

He climbed down the borehole to find out what had happened, but along the way he slipped and fell to the bottom of the hole.

"We alerted the police but when they arrived they were unable to rescue them, as the hole was too deep," said a resident.

Keiyo OCPD Joseph Mwaniki said they sought help from Eldoret Fire Brigade team who arrived in time to rescue one of the diggers.

"Unfortunately his colleague had died by the time the firemen arrived," said Mr Mwaniki.

He said the two had sunk the hole to such levels oxygen became insufficient, causing them to suffocate.

Receiving treatment

The officer said the survivor is receiving treatment at the Iten District Hospital.

Meanwhile, a 65-year-old man died after he fell into a 40ft borehole in Kitur village, Keiyo North.

Neighbours said the deceased had disappeared on Tuesday night and relatives discovered the body afloat when they went to fetch water.

Mwaniki said the man was reportedly mentally ill.

Police suspect he could have accidentally fallen into the well and drowned.

The body was taken to Iten District Mortuary as police launched investigation.