In a bizarre and tragic accident, a 29-year-old Chennai man died when a fish he had caught slipped into his mouth and got stuck in his throat, choking him. The strange accident took place on Tuesday when the man went fishing in Keelavalam Lake in Madurantakam.
Solo Fishing Trip Turns Fatal
The victim, Manikandan, was a daily wage labourer who was popular for catching fish with his bare hands. He used to go to the lake often in company with friends who helped him carry his catch. But on this day, he was all alone and had no one to help him.
Police said Manikandan had swum into the shallow waters of the lake to catch fish with his hands. Having caught two fish, he clutched one in his hand and, in a hurried action, put the other in his mouth while he swam ashore.
Fish Lodges in Throat, Manikandan Runs for Help
As he headed out of the water, the fish in his mouth started to wriggle. In a sudden turn of events, it slid deeper into his throat, blocking his airway. Panicked,
Manikandan ran towards the nearby village of Araiyappakkam to get help as he struggled to breathe.
Tragically, he died before reaching help. This the police confirmed.
Residents Tried to Resuscitate but Couldn’t
Villagers rushed to see Manikandan fall down after noticing him. Villagers did their best to pull the fish out from his throat. The thorny back of the fish however got wedged in his airway and could not get pulled out without the help of doctors.
Locals took him to Chengalpet Government Medical College Hospital, but doctors, upon arrival, declared him “brought dead.”
Manikandan Was a Skilled Fisherman
As per the locals, Manikandan was a regular at the lake and was famous for catching fish using his hands. They further informed that he was always accompanied by others who assisted in handling the fish, but on the accident day, he had gone out alone.
This strange and sad demise has taken the local people by surprise and has made everyone aware of the risks involved with fishing alone in secluded places.
