Fisherman Stung By Black Urchin Dies in Kilifi
By Robby Ngoba
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
A local fisherman stung by a black urchin and sort for homecare treatment has died at Soyosoyo village of Kilifi County.
The fisherman, Emmanuel Kiti Yawa, popularly known as Ngoto, 32, died at his rental house where he lived with his 4’years-old son.
The incident happened while he was fishing with his colleagues in the shallow waters off the Soyosoyo beach on December 7, 2024.
According to Kiti Jembe, one of the fishermen, the deceased was swept by a strong ocean wave which led him unknowingly stepping on a sea urchin.
“When we took off for fishing the weather was good, but after a while it changed and became rough. I saw my friend taken high up by a strong wave which he did not see it before landing on a rocky area sorrounded by sea urchins,” he said.
The deceased, he narrated, began feeling unwell as they returned to the shore after the fishing.
“As we were at the landing site waiting for fishmongers to come and buy our catch, he started looking unwell but he insisted he was well and strong,” he said.
After selling their catch, Jembe said they went to a nearby drinking den where he noticed he had several sea urchins strings on his left feet and he help to remove them.
“When I was helping in removing him some of the sea urchins strings he started complaining of an increased temperature and swelling of his feet so I instructed him to go home and take medicine.”
Paul Kadenge, a neighbour, said he became suspicious after noticing the door of the deceased open for hours on the fateful day and when he checked he found the lifeless body lying on bed.
“Initially, I thought he had gone to work, but I became suspicious after seeing the door opened for hours,” he said.
A senior police officer who declined to be named confirmed the incident saying they had commenced investigations into the matter.
“We will carry out a postmorterm to establish what exactly happened and we call on any person with information to volunteer share with us,” the officer said.
The body was move to the Kilifi County Referral morgue pending autopsy and other procedures.
Sea urchin is an aquatic creature with more than 90 percent water in its body. Its not a fish.
They have an umbrella-shaped body and tentacles used to catch their prey. The tentacles can be upto 30 to 35 meters long. Not all sea urchins are harmless.
