A man believed to be between the ages of 30 and 40 has died and his intestines ripped off after a grenade which he was holding exploded in Luangwa District.

In a statement, Monday, police spokesperson Esther Katongo stated that the deceased identified as Elias Phiri died instantly after he attempted to check for gold in a grenade.

“The deceased is reported to have gone in the bush, North East of Luangwa Bridge approximately 1.2 Kilometers up hills of the Luangwa River to cut some trees and whilst there, came across an object which he suspected to be containing gold. He hit it with an axe and it exploded and the fragment injured him severely, cutting his left palm, caused severe wounds on his right palm, intestines were ripped off and had deep wounds on both thighs. The axe used was also damaged. The grenade also damaged some trees at the scene of the fatal incident,” Katongo stated.

She stated that police have picked the body and that relatives intend to bury it without post-mortem.

Meanwhile, Katongo said a female pedestrian died on the spot after he was hit by a Toyota Harrier in Nyimba District.

Katongo stated that the accident happened on Sunday around 18:30 hours opposite INDO -Zambia Bank within Nyimba.

“The accident happened when the driver of the motor vehicle lost control of the due to excessive speed in the process hit the pedestrian who was walking on the pedestrian track on the left side of the road. Involved was a Toyota Harrier registration number AJC 9726 which was being driven by Kessons Phiri aged 39 years of River Side, Nyimba District who escaped unhurt while the pedestrian identified as Diana Chibanda, unknown age, of Moza compound in Nyimba District sustained fatal head injuries and died on the spot. The body of the deceased is in Nyimba District Hospital Mortuary awaiting post-mortem examination,” stated Katongo.