Hidden key leads to fatal sting

Trincomalee correspondent

A paddy farmer who hid the sluice key inside an ant hill died after being stung by a snake.

This was revealed at the inquest on the death of M. Piyadasa,48, a father of three, by Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, Morawewa U. B. Gunasekera.

Piyadasa owned a small tank fitted with a sluice to draw water to his paddy fields. He used to hide the sluice key in an ant hill near the pool.

On the day of the incident, the farmer had gone to the paddy field.

His body with marks on his right hand was found in the paddy field the next day. His push bicycle and clothes taken by him to wear after a bath were also found.

A verdict of death due to snake bite was recorded. Morawewa police led evidence.