An eight-year-old boy has died after being hit by a homemade spear in the South American country of Suriname.

Authorities said Dansaie Dankbaar was playing with his brother and a friend when one of them threw a spear they had made into the air.

Police said the boys, aged 12 and 13, told them that the falling spear hit Dankbaar in the neck as he ran for cover.

Police did not say whether they would be further investigating the incident, which happened in the town of Brokopondo, just south of the capital of Paramaribo.

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