'Died As They Danced': 22 Teenagers Mysteriously Dead At Nightclub In South Africa

As many as 22 underage children died mysteriously after partying in a nightclub at Cape town in South Africa. The youngest victim, a 13-year-old, was found lying on a table. Others were found slumped in chairs and couches and collapsed on the dance floor. The party was thrown to celebrate the ending of school exams and to celebrate removal of COVID-19 restrictions.

The timings of deaths are believed to be between 2AM to 4AM. Various speculations have been swirling around the investigation to find the cause of these deaths. A gas leak assumption is in the mills. Other hypothesized reasons for death include ingestion of poison or any harmful material during drinking or smoking hookah. Samples from the victims have been sent to the forensic labs for further investigation.

"They died as they danced. They dance, fall and die literally. Others would just feel dizzy, sleep on the sofa and die,” Police Minister Bheki Cele, as reported by Associated Press. He added, “The sight of those bodies sleeping there, when you look at their faces you realise that you're dealing with kids. You've heard the story that they are young but when you see them you realize it's a disaster. Twenty-one of them. Too many." Col. Athlenda Mathe, Police spokeswoman said the toxicology tests might take time and no specific grounds of these deaths had been instigated yet.

Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa who was presently not in the country as he is in Germany for the G-7 Summit offered his condolences to the grieved families. “My deepest condolences go to the families of the 22 teenagers who lost their lives at a tavern in Scenery Park, East London, in the early hours of this morning,” the president tweeted.

https://twitter.com/CyrilRamaphosa/status/1541018709594185733 

The president also conveyed his concerns as to why such young people were gathered at a venue that should have been off limits for the underage.