A FAMILY-of-five has tragically drowned in a septic tank while trying to rescue each other from the toxic mixture of animal urine and waste.
The accident in Nanshan village, near the city of Chaozhou, in southern China’s Guangdong Province, happened when a local farmer surnamed Wang was cleaning the septic tank used for his pigs, officials said.
The tank, located underground, had become clogged and Wang’s daughter volunteered to venture inside and fix the putrid container.
But after entering, she passed out from the toxic fumes created by the festering mass of animal waste.
Wang and his wife leapt into the tank without regard for themselves in a brave attempt to save their daughter.
But the couple both lost consciousness in the nauseating container as well before sinking into the muck.
Two of the couple’s three sons were the last to brave the tank, trying in vain to save their parents and sister.
Tragically, they too passed out and drowned in the liquid waste.
Wang’s third son called for help and managed to reach a family friend, who went into the septic tank without any equipment and also drowned.
When emergency services finally arrived, all six victims were removed from the container and found without vital signs.
They were pronounced dead at the scene, leaving Wang’s last son as the sole survivor of the horrific tragedy.
Government officials have expressed sadness at the family’s terrible loss and promised to educate villages about the dangers of misusing septic tanks.