Body found in water tank in Gampola Hospital not a COVID patient

2 November 2021 06:34 pm - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The body that was recovered from a 40-foot-deep water tank at the Gampola Hospital was not of a COVID19 patient but instead was of a heart patient, a spokesperson of the Hospital told the Daily Mirror today.

Responding to media reports which stated that the victim was a COVID-19 patient, the spokesperson of the Gampola Hospital who is a medical officer himself said the victim was admitted to the hospital following a heart attack and not with the COVID-19 virus.

“The victim was infected with the COVID-19 a month ago but he had fully recovered from the virus. He was rushed to the Gampola Hospital after suffering a heart attack and a rapid antigen test conducted on him upon admission confirmed that he was not infected with the virus at the time of the admission,” he stated.

“However, people from the hospital consumed the water supplied from the particular water tank from where the victim's body was found,” he said.

When questioned from the hospital spokesperson whether the COVID-19 could spread through the water since the victim had been infected even a month ago, he said the virus did not spread through the water.

Meanwhile, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa told the Daily Mirror that the victim who was a Sergeant attached to the Kotmale Police Station had gone missing since the day he was admitted to the hospital on September 8.

“A team of Police officers arrived at the location after they were notified that a stench was coming from the tank where they found the dead body after 52 days, on October 29,” he explained.

However, it is yet to be determined whether the dead body had been inside the tank for 52 days or not.

“The postmortem was carried out on October 30 where the cause of the death had not been specified,” SSP Thalduwa underlined.

“Therefore, the victim’s body tissues were directed to Government Analyst for further inquiry,” the Police Spokesman added.

In addition, he said the police is also carrying out further investigations in order to find out as to whether it was a suicide attempt or something else. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

Comments - 12

Lalith Tuesday, 02 November 2021 07:23 PM

The hospital spokesperson has said that coronavirus does not spread through water. But wasn't the reason cited for not permitting burial of corona virus deceasd persons that the underground water could get contaminated?

Roisin Tuesday, 02 November 2021 08:34 PM

Yes, so this proves that it was only a typical rule to hurt minorities. The same now with forbidding cattle slaughter. Also transporting Covid 19 victims is a health hazard. Everyone knows it is better to bury them in their own hometowns. Government is dividing our country!

Massdeen Tuesday, 02 November 2021 07:50 PM

In Sri Lanka it’s so fast they can change the news to safeguard the Govt, it’s all lies mentioned above, if it was not a water borne disease then why didn’t the Govt allow the Muslims bodies to be buried???? That’s was the reason they said n cremated it, now say it’s not water borne

ANTON Tuesday, 02 November 2021 08:02 PM

HOSPITAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE TASTED THIS WATER WILL HAVE TO BE GIVEN A SPCIAL TREATMENT.

Dilshan Perera Tuesday, 02 November 2021 08:56 PM

There is no freedom until there is freedom to taste that water, for everyone!

De Silva Tuesday, 02 November 2021 09:12 PM

Just like Elisa Lam being found in Cecil Hotel water tank and people drink

LGomis Tuesday, 02 November 2021 11:01 PM

Unfolding story by tomorrow: It was not a body but a plastic cadaver brought to train the medics.

Medasha Wednesday, 03 November 2021 06:16 AM

If Dr. Methikas soothraya is applied here, all staff and patients who drank and used this water would have been dead now. God saved all innocent people.

Ros Weer Wednesday, 03 November 2021 06:27 AM

A rapid antigen test is rubbish. I was tested NEGATIVE with a rapid antigen test despite showing symptoms of Covid-19 and yet when I demanded a PCR test two days later, I was positive. If water doesn't carry the virus, why did this government insist on cremations? Is it to prevent autopsies later?

Seqi Wednesday, 03 November 2021 06:55 AM

So many people go missing in Sri Lanka.....there seams to be no sense of responsibility for anything..... even missing taste buds.

Ralaharamy Wednesday, 03 November 2021 07:28 AM

How did a heart patient, who was serious enough to be admitted to hospital, climb to the top of the water tank to ultimately drown himself? The spokesman raised more questions than give answers.

Channa Wednesday, 03 November 2021 04:34 PM

Of course it’s not a Covid patient. It’s just a dead body.

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Body found in water tank in Gampola Hospital not a COVID patient

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