Two young soccer players shocked by live wires on soccer field
The boys only wanted to play soccer on a Saturday afternoon, but it nearly killed them.
What was supposed to be a fun-filled afternoon quickly turned into a near-death experience for two young boys from Kaalfontein when they were almost electrocuted on Saturday afternoon. The boys, guessed to be around eight years old, miraculously survived but were seriously injured.
According to Clr Desmond McKenzie, the youngsters were playing soccer on a field near a substation when they were shocked by live wires behind the goal box which were hidden in the grass.
“A patrolling security member found the boys and dispatched emergency responders,” McKenzie said. The boys were taken to Tembisa Hospital by Formel Emergency Medical Services.
When Express arrived at the scene at around 3pm, the boys were already taken to hospital. Photographs supplied by McKenzie show a small boy wrapped in bandages.
“Their legs, arms and genitals were badly burnt,” McKenzie said. “They were not crying but were clearly in shock.”
The boys’ parents were also on the scene. McKenzie said they appeared worried about how they were going to pay for the medical expenses, following the incident.
McKenzie added that he called The City of Ekurhuleni about the issue of the live wires but was told it was Eskom’s responsibility.
“Eskom, in return, told me it was the municipality’s duty.” In the end, it was Eskom who tended to the wires.
Spokesperson for the municipality Themba Gadeba confirmed to Express on Wednesday that the wires do, in fact, belong to Eskom. “The matter has been brought to their attention,” he said in a statement.
