A 24-year-old man of Trench Town area in Mpika district in Muchinga Province has died after he was struck by lightning yesterday.
Muchinga Province Police Commissioner, Dennis Moola, confirmed the incident to the media in Mpika district today.
According to Mr Moola, the incident happened yesterday at around 15:20 hours.
He said the death was reported to Mpika Police Station at around 19:35 hrs by Michael Bwalya aged 47, the uncle to the victim.
Mr Moola has since identified the deceased person as Daniel Chama aged 24 of Trench Town area in Mpika district.
“Brief facts of the matter are that, the now deceased person was a resident of Chimbalanga area of Luwingu district in Northern Province but recently left Luwingu to Trench Town area in Mpika district and then proceeded to Kamambwe gold mine in chief Chikwanda’s area of Mpika in search for gold,” Mr Moola explained.
He said on Thursday around 15:00 hours, whilst at the mine, it started raining heavily when the now deceased person and his two friends were playing inside the tent where they used to sleep at Kamambwe gold mine in Mpika.
“As they were playing in the tent, a lightning struck Mr Chama and he fell down and became unconscious,” he said.
Mr Moola added that after his two friends noticed that Chama had become unconscious, they called for help from the neighbours and rushed him to Michael Chilufya Sata Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
He said after acting on the report, the police inspected the body of the now deceased person and no physical injuries were observed on it.
He added that the body of the deceased has since been deposited at Mpika Urban Clinic mortuary awaiting burial as no foul play is being suspected.
Meanwhile, Mpika District Commissioner, David Siame, has expressed sadness at the death of Chama, describing it as painful.
Mr Siame has since sent a message of condolences to the bereaved family.
“Losing such an energetic young man is so sad,” he said.
