Tragedy struck in the Siakaceka village of Zambia's Choma district on Sunday, as Victor Sungababwa, 43, brutally attacked his estranged wife, Atrina Munsaka, 33, with an axe.

The savage incident took place between 5 a.m. and 6:45 a.m., as Munsaka, a homemaker, attempted to serve Sungababwa with divorce papers.

"The horrifying incident escalated further when Sungababwa, in an apparent act of desperation, downed a toxic chemical in an attempt to take his own life.

However, the quick thinking of witness Esen Kanimba prevented this act of self-harm.

Munsaka's body was subsequently transported to the Choma General Hospital Mortuary, where an autopsy will be performed.