TWO BROTHERS (9, 11) DROWN WHILE FISHING

MAKHONZA – The loss of a child is understandably devastating for anyone, but the death of two children simultaneously can be every parent’s nightmare.

A family of Makhonza was left heartbroken when two siblings, aged nine and 11, drowned on Sunday afternoon, apparently while fishing in a pond around the area.

As such, parents have been strongly warned to be extra careful each time their children go to rivers or ponds, as some of them may be full due to the recent rains received in the country.

Following the news of the drowned boys, the children’s devastated mother had to be rushed to hospital for treatment after she was apparently overwhelmed by the situation.
A shocked community member described the incident as very sad for the family.

“It was an unusual occurrence, and to think they were siblings who came after one another is just too devastating,” he lamented.
It was a heartbreaking moment for two young fellows as they watched helplessly when their two friends fell into the pond and disappeared under the water, one after the other, much in the same manner of their birth order.

According to one of the children’s uncles, the four boys left home shortly after returning from church, sneaking out of the homestead unnoticed and headed for the local pond which is situated about 800 metres away from the family compound.
He said they learnt that the boys had been fishing at the pond when tragedy struck.
“We had persistently warned them against playing around the pond and it’s so sad that it had to come to this. This is heartbreaking,” he said.

He mentioned that they discovered that the boys were using an old sack as their fishing net.
Reports are that the younger boy aged nine, apparently slipped and fell into the pond while trying to set up their net.
Subsequently, his 11-year-old brother noted the mishap and extended his hand, apparently in an effort to rescue his younger sibling.
But unfortunately, he also plunged into the pond.

A third boy who had managed to get in touch with the body of the 11-year-old was only saved by the fact that he tripped and fell at the edge, while his friend quickly disappeared under the water.
When the two remaining boys realised their friends were not re-emerging from under the water, one of them immediately rushed home to report what had happened.

Two elders, being the deceased boys’ father, together with his brother, ran to the pond.
“We were surprised when the boy came screaming saying his friends had drowned,” said the bereaved man.

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