In Orange Walk District, 2 brothers died in a well on Good Friday. They were attempting to clean it, when they were suffocated by toxic fumes inside.
At around 11:30, 41-year-old Trial Farm villager Isidro Coyoc, and his 26-year-old brother, Jeovani, were on their family farm, located in the Goat Hill area. Both men were cleaning a 40-foot well, but Jeovani Coyoc was at the bottom. He started to gasp for air, and his elder brother, Isidro saw his distress. He tried to get him help, hurrying to a nearby field to get assistance, but no one could help. So, he went down into the well himself to rescue his younger brother.
Unfortunately, the toxic fumes overtook both of them. Police found both men in water above the waist; they were both unconscious, but still holding on to the ropes.
Today in Orange Walk we spoke to a man who one of the brothers asked for help:...
Marcelo Canul, Cane Farmer
"A maroon vehicle came and parked out front and a man came out and asked for help. He sounded desperate like he was about to cry. He asked if I had any oxygen to help someone who is trapped in a well. I told him that right here on these grounds we have nothing; no ropes - nothing."
"He didn't take long. He left and went back where he came from. After 15 minutes after, security vehicles from the factory came and ask me where the accident had happened and I pointed them in that direction. They came back about half hour later with mud all over their bodies and they told me that both men had died. I heard some screaming, but because of the distance, I couldn't really make out what they were saying."
Over the years we've reported on many persons suffocating in wells in rural areas. This happens because when wells are more than 30 feet deep, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gases are released form the earth's crust. The fumes cannot circulate at the bottom of a well and overcomes anyone who is down there.
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