WARSAW, July 17 — Seven people, all members of the same family, died in a freak accident today after falling into an industrial-size septic tank on a pig farm in western Poland, firefighters said.

“Doctors have confirmed the death of seven people, while an eighth is in hospital in a serious condition,” Magdalena Bilinska, a fire brigade spokeswoman in the village of Karczowka, told Poland’s TVP public broadcaster.

The accident occurred on a family farm as the victims were reportedly trying to empty the tank, according to TVP.

A woman reportedly drove a tractor onto the tank’s cover, which gave way.

Seven family members who tried to rescue her were likely overcome by noxious gases and also fell into the tank, which measures 50 square metres (535 square feet) by three metres (10 feet) deep.

The sole survivor, a 45-year-old woman, was hospitalised in a serious condition, according to TVP. — AFP