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Arabia
Two Asians, One Saudi Die in Bid to Clean Alrashid Mall Sewer
2003-10-14
Two Asians and a Saudi suffocated while cleaning a sewer at the prestigious Alrashid Mall.
Dontcha hate it when that happens?
The accident occurred around 1.15 p.m. yesterday, when an Indian and a Pakistani member of the mall’s maintenance team along with their Saudi supervisor attempted to clean the sewer. The Pakistani laborer climbed down the manhole first despite warnings from the mall’s staff to wait until it was safe.
"Do not go in there!"
"Aw, it ain't nothin'! Why, my Uncle Abdullah once... Gasp!" [Thud!]
When the Pakistani fainted, his Indian colleague climbed after him, but he also lost consciousness.
"Mukkerjee! Don't do it!"
"I gotta save Mahmoud!"
"Why?"
"I dunno. I... Gasp!" [Thud!]
Maintenance officials say that normally workers wait before entering a sewage tank so that the gas has time to escape. “But these two did not follow the safety precautions,” an official said. The Saudi supervisor then climbed down the manhole to rescue his two workers.
"Guys? Guys? Hey! Wake up!"
Mall officials, who by then had alerted the Civil Defense, asked him to wait, but he refused saying that any delay could cost the lives of his workers. Once in the sewer, he too collapsed.
"Gasp!' [Thud!] [Splash!]
The Civil Defense team was quick to respond and reached the scene shortly afterward, but by the time the three men were brought to the surface they had died.
"Ahmed! Biohazard gear and gaff hooks! Make it quick!"
"Right, chief!"
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#10  Happens all the time in silos as well. Methane builds up in the bottom from rotting cattle feed, somebody goes in and collapses, second person sees them, thinks heart attack, goes in, repeat, etc. I believe 5 dead from one family is current record.
Posted by: Steve   2003-10-14 3:51:46 PM  

#9  "Well live and learn..."
Or not.
Posted by: .com   2003-10-14 3:29:31 PM  

#8  Didn't something similar to this happen in Kenya not even a year ago? If I remember correctly, some chick lost her cellphone down the latrine and paid person 1 to retrive it. Person 1 collapses and in goes person 2 to save person 1 and so on and so fourth. Well live and learn...
Posted by: acheampong   2003-10-14 3:19:26 PM  

#7  "I also find it astonishing that a Saudi supervisor would sacrifice himself for the Pakistani and Indian."

You got that right. If this little ethnic lineup was accurate, and it does have the ring of truth to it (the rescue attempt does not) the Saudi "Supervisor" would've been up on the 3rd Floor at the Starbucks. All day. There are far fewer tables & chairs than there are Saudis who want to sip and stare in Al Rashid Mall, so they don't give 'em up once they get 'em...
Posted by: .com   2003-10-14 2:49:03 PM  

#6  Of course it isn't funny. It isn't funny when an idiot plumber gets burried in a 10 foot deep trench that just collapsed either, but it happens. It can be avoided with training and practice. Remember common sense is an uncommon commodity.

Dorf
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-10-14 12:49:32 PM  

#5  I was a Gas Free Engineer and fire-marshal on my first ship. There are many instances of contractors and sailors being overcome by hydrogen-sulfide, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide during tank work. Sometimes an SCBA can get torn off while climbing through an impediment. In many cases you lose several "rescuers" as well.

That said - I find it interesting that a Pakistani would attempt to save an Indian. I also find it astonishing that a Saudi supervisor would sacrifice himself for the Pakistani and Indian. If this story is accurate, it should provide us with hope. The composition of the three-some looks unlikely to me. I suspect that the story has been embellished by our Saudi friends.
Posted by: Super Hose   2003-10-14 12:48:23 PM  

#4  Not so funny for me. As a former firefighter, you read about volunteer firefighters dying every year in these types of rescues. Yeah, everyone should know better, but it's still sad.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2003-10-14 8:29:42 AM  

#3  Been there,done that.Hydrogen sulfide and methane displace o2.
Frigging amatures.
Posted by: Raptor   2003-10-14 8:20:12 AM  

#2  Maybe OSHA really is a small town in Wisconsin.

Dorf
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-10-14 7:58:34 AM  

#1  Training film for Confined Spaces Hazards.....
Posted by: Frank G   2003-10-14 7:31:15 AM  

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