News / Local
City man drowns while taking selfie
10 May 2017 at 03:26hrs | Views
A Gwabalanda man Tichawona Nyamande (26) reportedly drowned on Sunday at Maleme Dam inside Matopo National Park while trying to take a selfie.
The police sub aqua unit retrieved the body on Monday afternoon.
According to reports, Nyamande had gone on an outing with a group of friends.
They allegedly started taking pictures with their cellphones at the scenic dam.
"Tichawona stood on rocks near the edge of the dam and started taking selfies with the water as background.
"He unfortunately slipped and fell into the dam," said a witness who declined to be named.
Tichawona's friends managed to cover about 20km to Matopo Police Station to report the drowning, it was already dark.
He hit his head on a rock, the source said, and lost consciousness.
"One of Tichawona's friends jumped into the water to rescue him. He managed to drag him out using his belt. It was clear from a distance that Tichawona's limp body was too heavy for his friend," said the source.
"He dragged him out of the water while others shot pictures and videos of the rescue operation.
"The friend could however not accomplish the mission as he slipped on the same rocks where Tichawona had lost his footing and they both fell back into the dam."
A police source said Tichawona's friend almost drowned as well.
"When he fell back into the dam, he was exhausted and this time around he even struggled to get out of the water. Tichawona who had no one to rescue him, sank deep down the waters of the dam which are up to 10 metres deep at some places," said the source.
The source added that by the time Tichawona's friends managed to cover about 20km to Matopo Police Station to report the drowning, it was already dark.
The sub aqua team only arrived at the dam on Monday morning and retrieved the body at around 2PM.
Sub aqua team retrieves Tichawona Nyamande's body
The police sub aqua unit retrieved the body on Monday afternoon.
According to reports, Nyamande had gone on an outing with a group of friends.
They allegedly started taking pictures with their cellphones at the scenic dam.
"Tichawona stood on rocks near the edge of the dam and started taking selfies with the water as background.
"He unfortunately slipped and fell into the dam," said a witness who declined to be named.
Tichawona's friends managed to cover about 20km to Matopo Police Station to report the drowning, it was already dark.
He hit his head on a rock, the source said, and lost consciousness.
"One of Tichawona's friends jumped into the water to rescue him. He managed to drag him out using his belt. It was clear from a distance that Tichawona's limp body was too heavy for his friend," said the source.
"He dragged him out of the water while others shot pictures and videos of the rescue operation.
"The friend could however not accomplish the mission as he slipped on the same rocks where Tichawona had lost his footing and they both fell back into the dam."
A police source said Tichawona's friend almost drowned as well.
"When he fell back into the dam, he was exhausted and this time around he even struggled to get out of the water. Tichawona who had no one to rescue him, sank deep down the waters of the dam which are up to 10 metres deep at some places," said the source.
The source added that by the time Tichawona's friends managed to cover about 20km to Matopo Police Station to report the drowning, it was already dark.
The sub aqua team only arrived at the dam on Monday morning and retrieved the body at around 2PM.
Sub aqua team retrieves Tichawona Nyamande's body
Source - Chronicle
