Sub-Station Fatality at Mareretu

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1939, Page 5

Sub-Station Fatality at Mareretu

Coming into contact with the main transmission line from Arapuni while working at the Public Works Department’s electrical sub-station at Mareretu, near F;aparoa, yesterday afternoon, Mr H. C. Young received severe burns from which he died in the Whangarei District Hospital at midnight.

Mr Young, who was of middle age, was a married man, residing at Hikurangi. /

In his capacity as relieving attendant at the sub-station, he is understood to have.been working on a stepladder, , painting electrical equipment near the main high tension wires, when the accident occurred. Woman's Prompt Action. He was first Noticed lying on the ground With his clothes on , fire beneath one of the power stanchions by Mrs J. Pilcher, wife of another employee. Mrs Pilcher ran to his assistance, extinguished the flames with water, and summoned Dr. D. Mackay, of Paparoa, who attended the injured man before he was conveyed to hospital at Whangarei by the St. John Ambulance. Suffering from burns to the chest, neck and face, Mr Young was found to be in a serious condition, and, despite all efforts by the hospital staff, died within a few hours.

Chance Discovery. From the position in which he was found it is surmised that Mr Young came into contact with the wire when eight feet from the ground and was instantly burned and thrown to earth. ,It was only by the merest chance that Mrs Pilcher visited the substation at that time, otherwise his tragic plight might not have been discovered for some time.