While skimming BBC News Online this afternoon, I noticed a story headlined Latrine deaths over Kenyan cell phone. Turns out this student dropped her mobile into a pit latrine in Mombasa after paying a wee visit, and she offered 1,000 shillings (US$13) reward for its recovery — a coupla more statistics: the phone cost 2,000 shillings (US$26), and the average daily wage in Kenya is US$1. So a rather meaty incentive, to be sure!

Sounds simple, you’d think — I’ll get yer phone back, you give me 1,000 shillings, sorted. Turns out three men died trying to get it back. Man #1 went down by ladder. Man #2 wondered where man #1 was, and went down after him, but slipped and couldn’t get back out. Man #3 tried to rescue men #1 and #2, but collapsed halfway down and died en route to hospital. Man #4 had to be restrained by the acting police chief from going down.

I hate to ruin the suspense, but the last line in the article (“The cell phone was not found”) highlights two things: one, the sheer folly people will go to to retain their gadgets, and two, the importance of buying insurance for your handset :)