A nine-year-old girl has died in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape after accidentally swallowing a butterfly, SABC radio news reported on Sunday.
Her uncle, Johnny Baartman, said Megan Baartman was chasing butterflies when one flew into her throat. She began choking shortly afterwards.
Her mother took her to a doctor, but she died on arrival. It is suspected that her breathing passage was blocked.
Doctors said a powdery substance on butterflies may cause internal organs to swell.
The species of the buttlerfly was not known.
A full postmortem will be conducted on Monday. - Sapa