The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
A RUSAPE toddler who was seated on a racing bicycle and mistakenly put his leg into the spokes was swept away when the bicycle overturned into a flooded river.
His body was retrieved from the water after three days.
The victim’s uncle lost control of the bicycle and only managed save himself and the victim’s sister from the danger.
Rusape district police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Muzondiwa Clean confirmed the incident that happened at a bridge along Rusape River.
He refused to identify the victim and his sister citing age restriction.
The boy’s body was found on Monday afternoon by a search party of relatives after police sub aqua unit had failed to locate him.
Asst Insp Clean said Simbarashe Kaitano (33), of Plot 5A Ricondite Farm, Rusape, was riding the bicycle when the mishap occurred.
“Incident happened on February 23, 2018 around 8am. Kaitano was riding a bicycle towards Rusape from Stella Farm. He was carrying his two cousins aged 11 and four years. The girl (11) was seated on the back carrier and the boy was on the frame.
“When they were at the Rusape river bridge, the boy put his leg into the spokes of the bicycle and Kaitano lost control of it. The bicycle zigzagged and eventually overturned into a flooded Rusape river. The two kids were swept away and only the girl was rescued by police 50 meters away and the boy could not be located.
“The police sub aqua unit was summoned to search for the boy but failed to locate him. His relatives continued to search for him and located his lifeless body near the Rusape Town Council water works area,” said Asst Insp Clean.
He urged road users to be always alert on the road.
“This is the rainy season, and we would like to warn people against crossing flooded rivers because it is dangerous,” said Asst Insp Clean.
