Durban — A man suspected to be a cable thief was electrocuted in Phoenix earlier this week.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said that an unidentified man was killed after he was electrocuted in Shastri Park on Tuesday.
Balram said that a resident contacted Rusa at approximately 10.19pm requesting medical assistance for the male who was electrocuted while attempting to steal high-voltage electricity cables from a light pole.
“Rusa members were immediately dispatched to the scene and on arrival discovered the unresponsive man lying on the ground,” Balram said.
“He showed no signs of life and was declared deceased,” he said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that Phoenix police are investigating a case of inquest after a body of a man was found at Trenance Park Drive in Phoenix on Tuesday.
“Preliminary investigation points to the fact that the man was electrocuted to death. The identity of the deceased has not yet been established and circumstances that led to the electrocution are under police investigation,” he said.
Two months ago, a toddler was killed when he was electrocuted at his home after touching live electrical wires.
Midlands EMS spokesperson Roland Robertson said that on Tuesday afternoon, the Midlands EMS crews were dispatched by Howick SAPS to respond to an incident where a child had suffered electric shock.
On arrival, paramedics found a one-year-old child with the father. The child was playing outside in his backyard where he touched open electricity wires and got shocked.
He said that despite advanced life support interventions, due to the severity of the injuries, the toddler was declared deceased.
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said that an inquest docket was opened at Howick police station after an 18-month-old was electrocuted.
Daily News