* This story has been updated.
Durban – Six men have died and 26 were injured in a freak gas leak in a sewer pit at the naval base in Durban harbour on Friday morning.
Paramedics arrived as rescue teams retrieved the bodies of six men from the sewer pit. Paramedics assessed all six men and declared them dead on the scene.
Twenty six others were treated and taken to various hospitals for gas inhilation injuries Of those who died in the "freak accident", three are army officials and three are civilians.
Brigadier-General Mafi Mgobozi said the three South African Defence Force members who died were trying to rescue three contract workers screaming for help at the bottom of a sewage pit after a gas leak. He said workers from the Department of Public Works were working in the sewage pit at the base.
Mgobozi said the soldiers who heard the cries went into the pit to help but they were overcome by the fumes.
"The contract workers were working underground when they started encountering breathing problems. It has now been established that the members succumbed to a methane gas leak in the pit.
"The three uniform members rushed to the pit to try and assist but also succumbed to the harmful gas."
He said the Military Police and SAPS would investigate.
The names of the deceased will be released once their families have been informed.
Mgobozi said the Defence Force would like to convey its heartfelt condolences to the families and colleagues.
KZN emergency medical services spokesperson Robert McKenzie confirmed the incident but would not comment as it happened on a military base.
Transnet have confirmed that all harbour operations have not been affected.