Youth badly burnt after pylon climb
9:37pm Monday 14th July 2008
Comments (22)A YOUTH is lucky to be alive after suffering a huge electric shock when he climbed an electricity pylon.
The victim, believed to be aged 17, was rushed to hospital with burns to his face, chest and arms following the incident, on Jedburgh Drive, Darlington, at 8.20pm.
A second male, thought to be in his teens, was hurt when he climbed up to try and help the first, who was hanging unconscious around 60ft up. He was also taken to hospital by ambulance.
The pylon carries 132,000 volts of electric between Darlington and Richmond. The incident is believed to have caused power cuts to properties in the Richmond area.
Acting Inspector Gavin Musgrave, of Darlington Police, said the first man was lucky to be alive. "We don't know why he has climbed up there at this stage," he said. "He got right to the top and got a massive shock. He fell back over and his trousers have saved him.
"He was left there writhing with the shock and another lad climbed up to try and help him.
"People living nearby heard a big bang and saw an orange flash."
The emergency services were called to the scene, and the power was shut off. The man, who is thought to be local, then regained consciousness, and managed to climb down, before being taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital by ambulance.
"He has been incredibly lucky," said Acting Insp Musgrave.
Michael Stephens, station manager for Darlington Fire Service, issued a safety warning in the wake of the incident.
"I would urge people not to climb up electricity pylons," he said. "They are an extremely dangerous hazard."
Your Say YourThe Northern Echo
me, darlington says...
11:12pm Mon 14 Jul 08
slayer mik, shildon says...
11:28pm Mon 14 Jul 08
me wrote:dam right they should be charged for wasting emergency services time
What a fool! What did he expect to happen when he climbed a pylon? People who do things like this should be made to pay towards the cost of the emergency services.
peter, darlington says...
11:31pm Mon 14 Jul 08
Scott, darlington says...
11:45pm Mon 14 Jul 08
Gavin wrote:He climbed up an electricity pylon, what did you expect would happen to him? Did he nopt read the Danger Of Death signs at the foot of the pylon, you know the ones alongside the barbed wire curtain which surrounds the bottom to stop people climbing up. Glad to hear he is ok mind but say you can't believe what happened to him is a bit of a joke isn't it. It's like your mate going and standing in the middle of the M1 and then getting knocked over only to say the phrase "can't believe he got knocked over like"
He is one of my best friends and i hope that he is OK. I can't believe that this has happened to him. Hope Ya OK M8 all ya m8's hopeing ya get better.
mike b, says...
12:04am Tue 15 Jul 08
Mr T, says...
12:05am Tue 15 Jul 08
C Smith, says...
2:30am Tue 15 Jul 08
Jemma, says...
8:19am Tue 15 Jul 08
Scott wrote:i think what he means he cant believe he did it- not the fact that he got electrocuted...
Gavin wrote:He climbed up an electricity pylon, what did you expect would happen to him? Did he nopt read the Danger Of Death signs at the foot of the pylon, you know the ones alongside the barbed wire curtain which surrounds the bottom to stop people climbing up. Glad to hear he is ok mind but say you can't believe what happened to him is a bit of a joke isn't it. It's like your mate going and standing in the middle of the M1 and then getting knocked over only to say the phrase "can't believe he got knocked over like"
He is one of my best friends and i hope that he is OK. I can't believe that this has happened to him. Hope Ya OK M8 all ya m8's hopeing ya get better.
Hes a very stupid lad for climbing up there, we know him and theres alot more to it than him just climbing for the hell of it.
I really hope he survives this, but i cant believe what an idiot he has been
kelly, darlo says...
9:25am Tue 15 Jul 08
i dont no how u people can judge someone u dont even no u didnt no what was goin on in his head or the **** he has 2 put up with it most of the time
hope u get beta soon mate xxx
??, darlington says...
9:32am Tue 15 Jul 08
Gavin wrote:What the bloody hell was he doing up there anyway? Pratting about? Kids of today honestly!!!
He is one of my best friends and i hope that he is OK. I can't believe that this has happened to him. Hope Ya OK M8 all ya m8's hopeing ya get better.
quote
peter, darlington says...
10:36am Tue 15 Jul 08
george, darlo says...
10:49am Tue 15 Jul 08
peter wrote:If he was being an idiot then yes it is a waste of time saving him, People say he has to put up with a lot, he is 17 what does he have to put up with, if he has problems there are people out there that can help, there are better ways to deal with demons than to try to shock then out with electricity. If he truly was/is your best mate then you should be helping him and not letting him do stupid things like this
i dont know how you all can really say that its wasting NHS time what would u do if it was one of your best m8s that did that.you wouldn\'t be saying all this what your sayin now would you !!!!!!
spud, boro says...
11:52am Tue 15 Jul 08
kelly wrote:Your mates a half witt mug
He climbed up an electricity pylon, what did you expect would happen to him? Did he nopt read the Danger Of Death signs at the foot of the pylon, you know the ones alongside the barbed wire curtain which surrounds the bottom to stop people climbing up. Glad to hear he is ok mind but say you can't believe what happened to him is a bit of a joke isn't it. It's like your mate going and standing in the middle of the M1 and then getting knocked over only to say the phrase "can't believe he got knocked over like" i dont no how u people can judge someone u dont even no u didnt no what was goin on in his head or the **** he has 2 put up with it most of the time hope u get beta soon mate xxx
..., Darlo says...
1:07pm Tue 15 Jul 08
A 17 year old has climbed a pilon and been electrocuted. Fact. They fail to mention why he was up there, or how seriously he has been hurt.
Perhaps maybe he didnt intend to survive and ''waste NHS time''
Not for one minute saying he was right to do it, it was a truly stupid idiotic thing to do. But i dont think you can all come on here calling him.
If it was a matter of showing off to his friends it would be a different matter - but alot of us know it wasnt as simple as that.
Yes everyone has problems, some worse than others, and some people have the strength to carry on and get help and fight it. Some people dont. Some succeed in giving up. Some dont.
This is an upsetting time for alot of people, and coming on here where people would like to leave support, just to have your say and be insensitive and **** right ignorant isnt fair!
K, Darlington says...
1:40pm Tue 15 Jul 08
A 17 year old has climbed a pilon and been electrocuted. Fact. They fail to mention why he was up there, or how seriously he has been hurt.
Perhaps maybe he didnt intend to survive and ''waste NHS time''
Not for one minute saying he was right to do it, it was a truly stupid idiotic thing to do. But i dont think you can all come on here calling him.
If it was a matter of showing off to his friends it would be a different matter - but alot of us know it wasnt as simple as that.
Yes everyone has problems, some worse than others, and some people have the strength to carry on and get help and fight it. Some people dont. Some succeed in giving up. Some dont.
This is an upsetting time for alot of people, and coming on here where people would like to leave support, just to have your say and be insensitive and **** right ignorant isnt fair!
I AGREE ENTIRELY! I KNOW THIS LAD & AS A MOTHER OF 2 I KNOW IT WAS WRONG WHAT HE DID. NO ONE KNOWS HOW HE WAS FEELING AT THE TIME! BUT DONT FORGET THIS IS SOMEONE'S LIFE - HAVE A HEART! SUPPORT IS WHATS NEEDED! NOT INSULTS FROM MINDLESS IDIOTS WHO HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH THEIR TIME THAN CRITICISE OTHERS!!
nik, darlo says...
2:24pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Savana, says...
3:02pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Dirk Diggler, Boro says...
3:16pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Ha, Darlington says...
4:11pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Emily, Darlington says...
6:04pm Wed 16 Jul 08
seedee81, Darlington says...
11:56pm Wed 16 Jul 08
The youth's trousers, left behind when he climbed down
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Gavin, Darlington says...
10:59pm Mon 14 Jul 08