NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, Feb 1: Five youths belonging to two families lost their lives while trying to save a fighter cock and each other at the Quasim Kahi village, Bihria Taluka, Naushahro Feroze District, on Friday.

A fighter cock managed to escape from the house of its owner and fell into an old well, used for throwing rubbish including cow-dung, in the house of late Ghulam Nabi Lanjar.

Mr Ghulam’s son, Majid Lanjar (30) first tried to save the cock by trying to go down the well. But he lost his balance and fell in it.

His brother, Imdad Lanjar (25), quickly entered the well to save him but never came out.

Then his cousin, Tufail Ahmed (20) went into the well to save them. But he never returned.

He was followed in quick succession by his brothers, Shakeel Ahmed (19) and Sohail Ahmed (18) but they too never returned.

Later, Edhi volunteers managed to retrieve all five bodies from the well and took them to the Taluka Hospital Naushahro Feroze. The five are supposed to have died as ammonia gas had formed in the well due to the passage of time and throwing of garbage.