05.07.2006

Crane driver electrocuted

The driver of an articulated loader crane was electrocuted yesterday after the boom of his crane struck 11,000 volt overhead electricity cables while unloading a flat pack garden shed in a field in north Essex.
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The truck after the accident

The man, aged 50, from the Clacton area, died in hospital shortly after the accident, which happened in a field off Chappel Hill, Chappel.

The crane took out the local electricity supply and could not be lowered from the cables for some time. while most of the area was back on line within five hours, the immediate dwellings were still not reconnected after nine hours.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) say that it has launched an inquiry into the accident after a preliminary investigation by police had revealed no suspicious circumstances.
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The crane boom touched the innocent looking line, which delivered 11,000 volts

Two people witnessed the incident immediately called 999 and began trying to resuscitate the man. When the ambulance crew arrived they carried out full resuscitation efforts, but he remained in a state of cardiac arrest.
He was flown by air ambulance to Colchester General Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.