Construction Worker Dies After Crane Arm Hits Power Line in Trat

Georgealbert · Sunday at 10:36 PM

Picture from responders.

A 47-year-old construction worker, identified as Mr. Uthai (surname lost his life after an incident involving a crane and a power line in Prachapakdee Soi 5, Nong Khan Song subdistrict, Mueang district, Trat.

Police in Trat province received the emergency call on the evening of January 5, reporting that a worker had been electrocuted and was in critical condition. Rescue personnel from the Trat Buddhist Charity Association and a medical team from Trat Hospital were dispatched to the scene immediately.

Upon arrival, responders found Mr. Uthai unresponsive, with severe burns on his feet and no detectable pulse. Rescue workers attempted CPR at the scene before transferring him to Trat Hospital via ambulance. Tragically, medical professionals later confirmed that he had succumbed to his injuries.

The incident occurred near a parked 10-wheel lorry fitted with a crane, which had been in use for a house construction project. The vehicle’s left-front tyre showed signs of burning, and the crane arm was still entangled with the power line. Scorch marks were also found at the truck’s grounding base.

According to Mr. That 36, a fellow worker at the site, Mr. Uthai had been operating the crane to position a construction beam when the incident occurred. Strong winds may have caused the crane arm to inadvertently strike the power line. This resulted in an electrical current travelling through the crane and into Mr. Uthai’s body before grounding into the earth. Mr. Uthai collapsed immediately, and Mr. That attempted to assist by pulling him away from the truck and performing CPR before emergency responders arrived.

Authorities are investigating further to determine what contributed to the incident.

-- 2025-01-06