SummaryA workman died trying to save his colleague who also perished in a fume-filled sewer beneath Yau Ma Tei. An official investigation has been launched after the workers, Chan and Ng, died beneath Saigon Street near the junction with Wai Ching Street. They responded to a report of a blocked sewer at 11:30am.
Circumstance an d ObservationsThe pair was sent to find the blockage in a sewerage construction site, operated by drainage firm, with a team of fellow workers. Chan and Ng were assigned to open manhole covers and their colleagues were operating an air blower for ventilation.Officials say ventilation work should be carried out before workers are allowed to go into a sewer but it is understood Chan and Ng climbed into drain at about 3:00pm before colleague returned with an air blower.Ng found Chan feeling dizzy on the ladder near the entrance. Ng tried to get hold of him, but failed. Chan fell into the sewer and Ng ventured into the sewer to rescue him but also collapsed.Colleague raised the alarm and firefighters were called in to pull the two workers from the two-metre-deep sewer. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus took a few minutes to bring them out of the sewer but they had lost consciousness.The pair was taken to hospital where they were declared dead. The two workers might have inhaled methane, hydrogen sulphur or carbon monoxide gases which are commonly found in sewerage channels. Samples of gas from inside the sewer have been sent to the Government Laboratory for analysis. Please click here to check how much you have learned.
