Two construction workers died while attempting to catch a duck from a city drain on Saturday in Krang Thnong commune, in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district.

District police chief Hour Mengvang identified the victims as Oeung Chan Arn, 26, and Phan Seiha, 24. Both men were from Trapaing Sdao commune, Romeas Hek district, in Svay Rieng province.

“There is no water in the drain and they could have died of suffocation,” Mengvang said.

According to the police report, which cites a witness, it was around 2pm and Chan Arn was trying to catch a duck in the drain. He then disappeared. The second victim went to find him and also disappeared.

The report said the witness, who was the wife of the first victim, sat to wait for her husband to emerge, but when he didn’t come out she called for help from villagers who notified local authorities who found them already dead.

The wife told authorities that the men had left work to go fishing at the site of the incident when they saw the duck running.