Tears as gas explosion kills sports journalist, wife and child

The National Vice-President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, South-South Zone, Mr. Eddie Bekon, his wife and child on Sunday died at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State, following severe burns sustained from gas explosion.

Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, the chairman of SWAN, Mr. Chukwuemeka Opara, said Eddie died as a result of gas explosion which occurred in their compound in Ikom, Cross River State, three weeks ago.

The incident reportedly affected his entire household, including his neighbour in whose flat the explosion happened.

Opara said, “Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi chapter, joins other chapters across the nation to mourn its departed National Vice President, South-South zone, Mr. Eddie Bekon, who passed on at the
Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, on Sunday, July 16, 2017.”

Opara disclosed that the family had been in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital since they were admitted, stating that the explosion claimed the lives of Eddie’s wife and one of his children, while his other children were also affected by the explosion.

He said,”Despite all efforts made to save Eddy’s life, he still died, together with two of his family members.

“We commiserate with the entire SWAN family and pray that God grant us and the entire Bekon family the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses.

“We use this opportunity to thank the Ebonyi State Government for offsetting the entire hospital bills of the Bekon family, the management and staff of the Federal Teaching hospital for their commitment throughout the admission of Mr. Eddie Bekon in the hospital.Punch