Man Dies from Electric Shock After Cutting Grass: Samut Songkhram

A man was found dead after being electrocuted after cutting grass near a canal. His wife had reported him missing the day before, leading to a search that ended with the discovery of his body.

On the evening of November 17, Ms. Namphueng (44) called emergency responders after her husband, Mr. Wattanaporn (52), failed to return home as promised. All that was found at the scene was one of his shoes, left by the canal in the Prachachom Chuen area. After a lengthy search lasting over five hours, he was not found, and hope began to fade.

The next morning November 18, residents discovered Mr. Wattanaporn’s body tangled in a patch of aquatic plants along the canal’s edge. Rescue worker Mr. Phanuwat Kaewnaphan, led the efforts to recover the body, but while descending into a boat to retrieve it, he was shocked by an electric current emanating from an unnoticed overhead power line that had sagged onto the ground and part of the canal. His arm went numb from the electric shock, but he was quickly pulled back to safety by his colleagues.

After the power was isolated, officials found a burn mark on Mr. Wattanaporn’s back, consistent with an electric shock, possibly caused by the sagging power line. Authorities believe that after cutting the grass, Mr. Wattanaporn went into the canal to collect shrimp. It is suspected that while trying to climb back onto the shore, he was electrocuted by the exposed power line.

Police with a local doctor confirmed the cause of death as electrocution. The body was sent for a full autopsy at Rajburi Hospital.

The event has sparked outrage among local residents, who have long criticised the local authorities for failing to address the dangerous condition of the power lines. Despite multiple complaints over the years, nothing has been done to fix the issue, and the power lines continue to hang low, posing a risk to the community. Local villagers have now called for immediate action to prevent further incidents, urging the responsible agencies to fix the hazardous wiring and ensure public safety.

Picture from responders.

-- 2024-11-19