A 7-year-old boy died in Phnom Penh on Thursday after his uncle blew air from a tire pump into the child’s anus, causing him to stop breathing, a police official said on Friday.
Tith Mak, 32, was playing with his nephew San Sokheang outside his motorbike repair shop in Dangkao district’s Prek Kampoes commune when he inserted the nozzle of a tire pump into the boy, said deputy commune police chief Svay Botha.
“They were playing together in front of the house where [Mr. Mak] fixed tires…he came to have fun with his uncle every day,” said Mr. Botha.
“The uncle took the air hose and sprayed it in the child’s body through the anus, suddenly the stomach expanded.”
Mr. Mak and the boy’s father rushed the child to the Prek Kampoes Health Center, which transferred him to the National Pediatric Hospital in Tuol Kok district, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, Mr. Botha said.
Mr. Mak was arrested after the child’s death and sent for questioning at the commune police station before being sent to the district police station, he added.
