‘Dead’ opportunist miraculously rises from the dead
Man allegedly died in Tuesday's fire truck accident.
On the morning of 2 February, while trying to track down one of the victims of Tuesday’s fire truck accident on Christiaan de Wet Road, the Record stumbled onto a conspiracy that would not be out of place in a Hollywood movie.
Early in the morning, the Record received an email from a woman (name withheld) asking whether we could confirm whether a certain man and his wife (identities withheld), perished after the accident in question. The Record said that it was almost sure no-one died in the horrific accident but would try to find out. On talking to a friend of the ‘victim’ the Record was trying to track down, the friend denied that anyone had perished.
The Record let the woman who enquired know that no-one had died in the accident, although we were still not 100 per cent sure. We then wanted to know from her what her interest in the ‘dead’ couple was. She explained that the sister of the ‘deceased’ man sent them a message to let them know he and his wife had died after being involved in Tuesday’s accident. She also explained that the man was supposed to install security equipment at her home last year, took the deposit, but kept on making excuses as to why he could not do the job. The excuses ranged from being in hospital to his father having passed away.
The Record then asked the woman for the ‘dead’ man’s telephone number and called him. Miraculously, he answered and identified himself, but when he was asked if he was the ‘dead’ man, he quickly put the phone down. The Record then SMSed him explaining that we are giving him the opportunity to comment and whether he uses the opportunity or not, that his name can then legally be published. Shortly afterwards, his ‘dead’ wife called the Record’s office to enquire why the newspaper was looking for her husband. The whole affair was explained to her and also the fact that he had been given the opportunity to comment and if he did not use the opportunity his name would be published. She said she would investigate and call back but never did. The Record also called the bearer of the bad news, the ‘dead’ man’s sister, but she did not answer. Shortly after the Record SMSed him he contacted the disgruntled customer and said he can only do the job on Tuesday because his equipment has been stolen.
By the time of publication, a third SMS had been sent to the ‘dead’ man but he has yet to reply. His sister was also called again. The call was answered but no-one spoke. The enquirer has also sent the message the sister sent to her to the Record. It reads: “We are currently at the the family court in JHB to get temporary custody over (man’s name)’s children. Can we make arrangements for Friday. After this we want to start with the funeral arrangements”.
The Record has given the man until noon today (3 February) to reply to the request for comment. Thereafter we will publish his name in order to warn the public.
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Fire truck falls on car in six vehicle accident
