Mechanic killed instantly as truck slips off hydraulic jack

A 56 year-old employee of Coastal Auto Repairs in Swakopmund died on Friday morning when a truck on which he worked slipped off a hydraulic jack and crushed him. A second person sustained serious injuries during the freak accident.

The incident was confirmed by Detective Inspector Erastus Iikuyu, Acting Regional Crime Investigations Co-ordinator for Erongo.
According to Iikuyu the two employees were working under the truck and were busy repairing a rear spring blade.
“It is alleged that at about 10:30, while they were busy under the truck, the jack slid off and the truck fell on top of them,” Iikuyu explained.
Although the garage owner and other workers acted quickly and jacked up the truck to rescue the victims, one of the employees, Mr Fillemon Kamati (56) died at the scene. Another employee, Levi Nghede (46), sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the Swakopmund State Hospital.
His condition was described as stable.
The next of kin of the deceased were informed. The police is investigating the incident.