SHOCK AND BURNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23215, 8 December 1938, Page 14

SHOCK AND BURNS

INJURY TO LINESMAN WORK ON 11,000 VOLT LINE FALL FROM WIRES TO GROUND [by telegraph —OWN CORRESPONDENT] PUKEKOHE, Wednesday Coming into contact in some unknown way with the 11,000-volt power lines between Drury and Ramarama, Mr. Sidney Clews, jun., of Pukekohe, a Franklin Power Board linesman, suffered shock and severe burns about the head and shoulders. He fell about 20ft. to the ground and suffered a broken wrist as a result. Mr. Clews went out at about 5 a.m. to endeavour to locate the cause of trouble which was occurring on the line. Ho went up a pole to make an examination, meanwhile cutting off the power from the low-tension lines which the poles there also carry, and which are about 7ft. below the 11,000volt cables. About three hours later he was noticed by a farmer, Mr. C. Woods, lying across the low-tension wires. Mr. Woods called to him, but received no reply. He telephoned the power depot at Pukekohe and the board's engineer, Mr. <L. G. Sharp. Dr. A. I. Begg, of Pukekohe, and Dr. G. f W. Locke, of Papakura, arrived within half an hour and it was found that the injured man had fallen from the power line to the ground. Mr. Clews was in a semi-conscious condition. An ambulance was summoned from Auckland, Mr. Sharp setting out for the city with Mr. Clews in his car. The ambulance was met at Manurewa. Mr. Clews was transferred to it and admitted to the Auckland Hospital. His condition this evening was stated to be serious.