A tragic incident unfolded in Bluewater Bay, Eastern Cape, when a 13-year-old boy died after consuming an unidentified liquid from a cool drink bottle he found in a refuse bin. The event, which took place last week, is currently under investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Swartkops, with an inquest docket opened to determine the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed the details, stating that the boy and his father were searching through black refuse bags for food along Zephyr Street when the incident occurred. “It is alleged that the boy found a cool drink bottle with liquid in it. After drinking the liquid, he fainted and passed away on the scene,” Beetge reported.
The boy, identified as Alti Willard, was with his father, Alan Willard, at the time of the tragedy. In an emotional interview with Newzroom Afrika, Alan recounted their weekly routine of scavenging for food every Tuesday when residents placed their refuse bags outside. “My son found a cool drink bottle with some liquid in it and drank it. He offered me some, but I told him no, I felt like having tea. I didn’t want to drink cooldrink,” Willard said.
Alan described the harrowing moments that followed. “Shortly after drinking it, he started walking differently, and his eyes became wide. I thought he was joking, but then he collapsed in my arms and died,” he said. Alan’s desperate screams for help went unanswered as his son’s life slipped away.
The grieving father expressed his profound sorrow, revealing that he cries every night for his lost son. The Willard family’s plight is compounded by their financial struggles, as they are unemployed and rely on the kindness of others for survival.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, seeking to uncover the nature of the liquid and how it ended up in the refuse bin. The community remains shaken by the tragic loss, highlighting the severe challenges faced by those living in poverty.
