A PORT Elizabeth man died in a freak accident yesterday when the valve of a pressurised fire extinguisher shot off and hit him in the chest.
Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said Wayne van Wyk was standing beside his bakkie outside Reclam Scrap Metal Buyers in Pyott Street, Sydenham, at about 2pm while the business owner was inside negotiating with another seller.
"Van Wyk was standing a good distance away outside while the workers were offloading scrap from the bakkie,” she said.
"One worker then grabbed a CO2 fire extinguisher that was part of the scrap and hit the brass filler valve with a hammer. The pressure then caused the valve to shoot off in one direction, hitting [Van Wyk] in the chest while the canister shot off in another direction.”
Police were alerted and Van Wyk was declared dead on the scene.
A crime is not suspected. An inquest docket has been opened.
