Watchman dies after eating honey-like substance

Three workers of Salulu Mart Timbers Saw Millers in Nyeri recuperates at Nyeri Ref feral Hospital where admitted, after one of the them died after eating what allegedly suspected to be poisonous honey on January 24 2016.from left is John Irungu,James Githinji and Peter Nyangau.PHOTO KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD.

A honey feast for five timber-yard workers turned tragic after one of them died while three others were admitted to Nyeri Referral Hospital.

The 9am incident that led to the death of the watchman who was barely two weeks old in his new job occurred after they consumed a tree extract that they mistook for honey.

John Githenji, a worker at Salulu timber yard on the outskirts of Nyeri town, said they had just started their daily work when they noticed a honey-like substance in one of the logs.

"When we saw the substance, which we assumed was honey, we scrambled for it," Githenji told The Standard from his hospital bed.

However, within a short time Githenji said the watchman left the yard and requested for a glass of water.

After drinking the water, the watchman, name withheld as his relatives had not been notified by press time, developed stomach complications and asked to be allowed to rest.

"Minutes later, we also developed stomach pains and started vomiting. When we went to check on the watchman, he had already died," Githenji said.

He said a Good Samaritan rushed them to hospital where they were immediately put on medication.

Nyeri County Secretary Alice Wachira who visited the scene following the incident said medics had taken a specimen of the substance.

"It's early to speculate on the cause. However doctors from the referral hospital have already collected some specimen with a view to identifying whether the substance had poison," Wachira explained.

The victims had extracted the substance from the core of a Silky oak (Grevillea robusta) tree log that the saw mill.

Wachira urged residents to be cautious and not to rush to consume anything they come across, noting that some things are poisonous.

"The five could have consumed some tree gum, leading to this awful incident and we are now urging our people to stop consuming anything they come across to avoid such incidents, "she said.

Doctors said the four who survived would undergo further checks.