FATAL ELECTRIC SHOCK

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24982, 17 September 1946, Page 6

FATAL ELECTRIC SHOCK

Two Linesmen Killed* At Hororata WIRE TOUCHES POWER LINE Two linesmen, employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, were killed bv an electric shock when a telephone line they were handling touched a high-tension power line near the Hororata township about 2.20 o’clock yesterday afternoon. They were: Frank Methven, aged 21, son of Mr and Mrs F. Methven, of Halswell. John Leslie Bell, aged 32, whose mother lives at St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. i A third membeY of the line gang also received a shock, but recovered without injury. He was: Percival Edward Walton, a married man, of 43 Hood street New Brighton. The accident occurred about half a mile from Hororata, between the township and a sawmill. A gang of six linesmen were removing telephone wires which had been “dead” for some months. Walton, it was stated by a department official, was winding the wire on to a drum, while Methven and Bell were pulling the wire from the overhead line. The wire was accidentally flicked upwards and touched a high tension power line. The three men received the shock simultaneously, but Walton (who was holding the drum) was only dazed. One other member of the gang was standing nearby watching the operations, but the other two were some distance from the line. Artificial respiration was applied immediately and medical assistance was called. Dr. J. W. AVery, of Darfield, and Constable J. R. Barwick, of, Coalgate, soon arrived at the scene. Artificial respiration was continued for two hours, and also in the ambulance which took the two men into Christchurch.

Both men were standing on wet ground when the wire made contact with the power line. Walton received treatment at the Hororata Hotel and apparently did not suffer from any serious after-effect of the electric shock.

An inquest into the deaths of the two men will be opened this morning before the Coroner (Mr H. P. La wry).