Patient's body found in basement of Bloemfontein hospital
The body of a patient has been found in the basement of a government hospital in Bloemfontein.
It’s believed the patient had gone missing a few days earlier.
Preliminary reports show the patient may have drowned after the basement flooded.
Spokesperson for the Free State Department of Health Mondli Mvambi confirmed the discovery, but said the water level in the basement of the hospital was only “at the level of a shoe sole”.
Mvambi said a hospital staff member noticed the male patient was missing and reported it.
His body was identifiable and his family was notified.
He further said an autopsy was conducted and the cause of death was not drowning.
According to Mvambi the family did not lodge a complaint and the department has met with the family several times.
Mvambi said the problem with the basement was resolved.
Although there are two lifts that go to the basement, one was locked, and the other was deactivated by the accredited lift company.
Pelonomi Hospital has been making headlines over several years after a Public Service Commission report found a backlog in maintenance of the building and medical equipment, as well as a shortage of staff.
The outcome of the internal investigation and the police investigation is unknown.
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