Photo Caption: Incident Scene
By Buba Gagigo
A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday along the Coastal Road, where a young man lost his life after being electrocuted while cutting branches from a mango tree located dangerously close to high-tension power lines.
An eyewitness told Kerr Fatou that the victim had been hired to trim the branches for charcoal production.“They were cutting the branches to make charcoal. He climbed the tree and managed to cut a few branches before coming into contact with NAWEC’s high-tension wires. We heard him scream, and when we looked, he had already been electrocuted. We wanted to rescue him, but it was too risky—we were afraid to go near. We called the authorities, but it took them more than 30 minutes to arrive. Some we called didn’t even pick up. That’s how he died,” the eyewitness recounted.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) confirmed the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“It is with deep sadness that we inform the public of a tragic incident that occurred around 5 Junctions, Sinchu Baliya. A young boy was electrocuted while cutting tree branches near NAWEC’s high-tension power lines. According to reports from people on site, the boy had been hired to trim the branches of a tree located dangerously close to high-tension lines. While cutting, the metal cutlass he was using accidentally contacted the live wires, resulting in instant electrocution and his untimely death,” NAWEC said.
The company extended its condolences to the bereaved family, expressing solidarity with the grieving community. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we mourn alongside the community for this painful loss,” NAWEC said.
NAWEC also used the opportunity to remind the public of the extreme dangers associated with working near electricity infrastructure, issuing the following safety guidelines:
• Never attempt to cut or trim trees near power lines.
• Always contact NAWEC for guidance or assistance if a tree or object is close to or touching power lines.
• Always maintain a safe distance of at least 3 meters from all power lines.