Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 1:35 am

Cambodia News, (Kratie Province): A man died from lack of oxygen, when he was installing a water pump motor in a well at a depth of 6 meters in a tragic accident on the morning of March 30, 2021 in Anchanh village, Dar commune, Chit Borey district, Kratie province.
According to the source, the victim was Khin Choeun, a 50-year-old man living in the above-mentioned village-commune. The source said that before the incident, the victim was seen going from his house down a well located at the back of his house at a depth of about 6 meters to connect the pump motor, but because there was no oxygen in the well, it caused a tragic death.

The relatives saw the victim go down into the well and could not find him, so they went to look for him, only to find out that the victim had suffocated and died while he was installing the water pump.
After the body of the victim was retrieved from the well by the villagers, they reported the accident to the authorities to come down for an autopsy, and the authorities confirmed that the victim died accidentally by going into the well where he ran out of oxygen.

Authorities handed over the body of the victim to the relatives for a traditional ceremony. RIP

Apollo91881 · Post by **Apollo91881** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:54 am

Is this actually possible?

Post by **Freightdog** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:04 am

Yes, as I understand it, and has happened a couple of times, reported in news on CEO.
I think the actual problem is the excess CO2 buildup, that doesn’t dissipate. You start rebreathing your own exhaled air. Exertion exacerbates, and the gradual incapacitation actually impedes recognising the effects.

Well shafts, mine shafts.

Kammekor · Post by **Kammekor** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:16 am

Apollo91881 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:54 am Is this actually possible?

It happens all the time, although usually it happens while digging the well. Wells can go as deep as 25-30 meters and experienced diggers will pump air in the well while working down there.

In this case, at 6 meters deep, maybe the man become unwell and fell into the deep well. Suffocating at only 6 meter seems strange to me.

Lonestar · Post by **Lonestar** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:43 am

Not only is it possible, but it is extremely dangerous to go into a well, a hole, or a cave without testing the atmosphere. It could have been a lack of oxygen, and it also could have been H2S. Hydrogen Sulfide is naturally produced by decaying organic matter. It is heavier than air, and can kill immediately if the level is high enough.

Unfortunately, it is very common in these cases to have multiple fatalities as friends and family attempt rescue...only to succumb as well.

I am surprised that so many are unaware of how dangerous this is.

Bitte_Kein_Lexus · Post by **Bitte_Kein_Lexus** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:01 am

Exactly as LS says. You do training regarding this if you work in the oil industry or some agricultural fields. Common problem in many developing countries. I'm also surprised people still dig wells the old-fashioned way when getting a bore well dug is relatively cheap and easy. Perhaps they're worried about maintenance costs on the pump, or they get relatives to dig the wells for free so oot for that instead. I can't imagine it being much cheaper as almost no one digs these anymore.

Apollo91881 · Post by **Apollo91881** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:03 am

Lonestar wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:43 am Not only is it possible, but it is extremely dangerous to go into a well, a hole, or a cave without testing the atmosphere. It could have been a lack of oxygen, and it also could have been H2S. Hydrogen Sulfide is naturally produced by decaying organic matter. It is heavier than air, and can kill immediately if the level is high enough.

Unfortunately, it is very common in these cases to have multiple fatalities as friends and family attempt rescue...only to succumb as well.

I am surprised that so many are unaware of how dangerous this is.

I completely understand the dangers of confined spaces and wondered if there was another gas displacing the Oxygen.
I didn't expect 6 meters though.
Now I learned something.

Kammekor · Post by **Kammekor** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:13 am

Bitte_Kein_Lexus wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:01 am Exactly as LS says. You do training regarding this if you work in the oil industry or some agricultural fields. Common problem in many developing countries. I'm also surprised people still dig wells the old-fashioned way when getting a bore well dug is relatively cheap and easy. Perhaps they're worried about maintenance costs on the pump, or they get relatives to dig the wells for free so oot for that instead. I can't imagine it being much cheaper as almost no one digs these anymore.

For me the question is not why they dug the well, they probably did so years or decades ago, but why did he go in to install or repair a pump when the work could be done on the surface?

Getting a well drilled in Cambodia ain't cheap, or relatively cheap. Most areas have only one company capable of doing the job. Here in the Northeast we have two now, so prices came down a but, but a bore well + pump (1kW) will set you back 1,600 USD (used to be 1,850-1,900). To dig a well costs 250 USD. That says it all I guess.

Bitte_Kein_Lexus · Post by **Bitte_Kein_Lexus** » Wed Mar 31, 2021 10:32 am

Where are you at? I've had three wells dug at different locations and they cost about $250 each, including the pipes... Ground is like butter here. Cheap Chinese pump is like $60-100 max. Of course, costs go up significantly if you're living on a hillside or rocky terrain (I know a guy who spent $1k+), but most villages aren't. The NE might be a totally different situation though.

Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Re: Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Re: Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Re: Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Re: Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Re: Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Re: Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Re: Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Re: Tragic Accident as Man Dies in Well from Lack of Oxygen

Who is online

Register/Login to CEO with your Social Media Account: