A Guyana Power and Light (GPL) linesman barely escaped electrocution yesterday when a part of the lantern post he was working on outside the Bhena’s Footwear Store on Regent Street gave way resulting in sparking wires.
The man was left hanging by his safety belt for about five minutes as his colleagues ran to shut off the power in the area.
Officials at the utility company could not provide a name for the man up to press time last night but said that he was receiving treatment at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
Stabroek News was told that the man suffered minor burns and was conscious when he was brought down from the post. He was unconscious for several moments after the support structure gave way.
An eyewitness to the episode said that around 5:30 pm the man went up on the pole and was testing a wire. About five minutes later the beam he was standing on gave way and he was left dangling. The man said that wires then started to spark. The eyewitness said that the GPL men on realizing what was happening removed the ladder and went around the corner to shut off the power to the area. The men then returned to the lantern post that their colleague was hanging from and rescued him.
Stabroek News was told by several persons who witnessed the incident that the man was hanging there as the wires sparked for several minutes and that from all appearances he was not burnt severely.
At the time of the incident the GPL lineman was wearing the necessary protective gear.