Man electrocuted and thrown 30 feet in the air after cable cut with hacksaw
A MAN was hurled 30 feet into the air after reports of burglars cutting a power cable with a hacksaw.
Hundreds of people in the Tredworth area lost their electricity after the incident at the old Norville site, in Hatherley Road.
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Some 1,775 electricity customers were affected by the power cut on Sunday evening.
Police were called to a nearby house at 10.30pm following reports a man was taking metal from the derelict site.
It was one of a number of similar reported attacks on electricity network in Gloucestershire in the past few days.
The injured man staggered from the site to a nearby house in Wheatstone Road to ask for help.
Paramedics arrived at 11pm to treat the man, whose arm was reported to have turned black. He was taken by ambulance to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, accompanied by police officers.
A witness, who was alerted because of a banging sound, saw another two other men on the site cycling quickly away.
Forensic officers were last night examining a bag of tools which was left behind at the site.
Central Networks Press Officer Victoria Blake said: "Customers lost power for just over an hour after a break-in at a sub station in the area. We apologise to those who were affected. We are currently working with the police to help them with their inquiries."
Police spokesman Chris Jackson said: "Police were called at 10.30pm following reports a man was retrieving metal from the old Norville site and had received an electric shock."
The man has been released from hospital.
Meanwhile Central Networks is also offering a £1,000 reward for information on anyone responsible for attacks on high voltage pylons. A spokesman said thieves had been seen scaling large pylons to steal copper cabling in Saul and Lydney.
Phil Wilson, customer operations manager for Central Networks, said: "We take these attacks very seriously and we want to see the perpetrators caught and brought to justice. At some of the pylons, overhead lines have been left dangling in a very dangerous manner, and our engineers have had to carry out extensive repairs."
Sergeant Kirk Harrison, from the local policing team in Saul, added: "These thefts are being thoroughly investigated and we are eager to see the offenders brought to justice."
Anyone with information about either of these cases is urged to contact Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234.
16 Comments
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by Jacob Tait-Bailey, Chelt
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:28PM
“Tim, you certainly are right. although i hardly see many readers of the echo understanding the term macroshock”
by sceptical, cleeve
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 8:06PM
“I do wonder if he knows the chap caught trying to pinch the half ton bronze statue from Sandford Park...an equally ill considered idea.
I suspect they both enjoy the freedom of the open road and making camp wherever they like...”
by Salubritas & Eruditio, Cheltenham
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 7:57PM
“Absolutely right, Tim.
'Electrocute', from a combination of 'electricity' and 'execute'.
A technique invented by the Americans to relieve executioners of the embarrassing results of miscalculating the required length of rope, apparently.
To use the term to describe accidental death by electric shock is stretching a point - to use it when someone hasn't died is just plain misuse.
I bet his arm stings a bit, though. Having once shorted out a 150 Amp 415 Volt supply and getting my hand in the way, I have some idea what it feels like.”
by chris, chelt
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 4:54PM
“not long ago i was censored for commenting funny things about a lady photographed nearby the new museum in Cheltenham on this very same paper, and u people are saying all those horrible things about this guy without being censored.... honestly this a joke.
shame on u ECHO”
by C, FOD
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 3:55PM
“Oh my god.
All of you wishing this man dead think about your own lives. Can you honestly say that you've never taken ANYTHING that didn't belong to you or have you never gone a little over the speed limit endangering yourself or an innocent person.
I'm not saying what this person did was right, of course it's wrong but never wish anyone dead. Wish him proper punishment instead!”
by Alan, Gloucester UK
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 3:51PM
“This sort of thing will continue to occur until some sort of control is introduced on scrap metal merchants. Anyone selling scrap should provide photo i.d. and have their photo taken. If the scrap metal dealer can not prove where his scrap came from he should be charged with receiving stolen goods.”
by Kay Powell, Robinswood
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 3:04PM
“Wheatstone Road is not "nearby" the old Norville site, so the scumbag didn't go there for help. Presumably he lives there and was trying to evade the police.”
by The Khazi of Kalabar, Cheltenham
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 12:55PM
“Ha, I love this!
It's such a shame this waste of DNA didn't burst into flames and die slowly in hideous agony. Still, fingers crossed for the next time.”
by Parasite Hunter General, Watchtower
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 12:02PM
“Parasites like this worm deserve to fry to death. They have no respect for anybody nor the society, they just think of themselves, to them nothing nor anybody else matters. I hope he suffred and will continiue to do so...”
by Tim, The Old Bell - Tiger's Eye Gloucester
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 11:58AM
“"electrocuted" - killed by electric shock?
If he did die he would have been a candidate for the Darwin Awards 2010!”