Carbon monoxide incident claims three lives in Eshowe

Emergency services say a group of workers had been inside a water pipe trying to unblock it using a generator. 

Netcare 911's Chris Botha says the exhaust fumes became too much and they inhaled the carbon-monoxide.

He says when paramedics found the first worker - he had stopped breathing.

"Provincial services tried to resuscitate him but tragically he died there at the scene. Two other people were in a serious condition and had gone to hospital by private transport. 

"There were still two people trapped in the pipe when our rescue officers arrived. They went into the pipe, removed the generator first and went back in and removed the two men. Tragically they passed away," he said.

He says five other workers are in a critical condition in hospital.

(Photos: Netcare 911)