EENGONDI, OSHIKOTO REGION — A 13-year-old boy died from head injuries after a fall into a well while fetching water in the Eengondi Constituency, reported by the Namibian Police Force (NamPol).

According to Namibia Press Agency, Theopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku, the accident occurred on Sunday around 14h00 at Evale village. The victim, identified as Elia Ndeutapo from Oshikondeilwa village, was retrieving water from the well, a routine task for him, when the incident happened. “It is alleged that the deceased left home from Oshikondeilwa to collect water from the well at Evale village as usual and at the water point he agreed with others that he would be the one to go down and fetch water from the well to fill their containers,” explained Kalompo-Nashikaku.

The procedure involved the boy sitting on a chair tied with a rope to lower him into the well. However, during the descent, the boys handling the rope lost control, causing Ndeutapo to fall. “Unfortunately, the other boys who were controlling the rope lost control over his descend and could not hold his body weight, and while in the middle of the well, a few meters away from the bottom of the traditional well, the boy hit against the rocks and fell to the bottom, sustaining head injuries,” stated the Regional Commander.

Community members retrieved Ndeutapo’s lifeless body from the well. His body was transported to the Omuthiya Police Mortuary for a post-mortem. The deceased’s family has been notified of the tragic event.