Child (3) survives 11 000 volt shock
The little girl was admitted to hospital with a burnt arm.
AN Umtentweni toddler, Charleze Joubert (3) suffered severe burns to her arm but was lucky to survive an electric shock from an unlocked 11 000 volt Eskom transformer on Ambleside Road.
The child, who was admitted to Port Shepstone Regional Hospital, was expected to be released yesterday (Wednesday).
Her mother, Cinthia Joubert, said her daughter had been walking in front of her, when she heard an electrical buzzing sound. “I saw my daughter flying through the air. She was screaming. I could see her arm smoking and there was a smell of burning flesh,” she said. Her right arm was burnt black.
Mrs Joubert took her daughter to the nearby Umtentweni Clinic where staff called for an ambulance and had her transported to hospital.
Charleze’s father, Charles Joubert, said his daughter was recovering well. “I am heartsore as she didn’t deserve this. We are worried about what kind of complications she may face in the future,” he said. He believed that whoever had left the transformer boxes unlocked had not only been negligent but had acted illegally.
“The force of the electric current caused her to bounce between the boxes. Then she hit the door, which opened, and she was flung onto the concrete,” said Mr Joubert. He said that although officials had visited the hospital they had done nothing further to assist the family.
Shop owner Allan Jansen was one of three horrified bystanders who witnessed the incident. He said the child had looked like a tennis ball, bouncing between the two boxes.
He said when one of the bystanders had telephoned Eskom to report the matter he was asked to cordon off the area to keep people away until Eskom employees could get there.
Concerned about the ordeal Mr Jansen said he took a few photographs on his cellphone. However, he claimed that he was later asked by two Eskom employees why he had taken the photographs and whether he was going to distribute them on social media. He slammed their attitude as unprofessional and bullying.
Mr Jansen added that residents had repeatedly reported the unlocked boxes to Eskom. Since the incident new locks had been fitted on all three boxes.
An Eskom spokesman said his organisation would have to investigate the incident before it could respond to questions asked by the South Coast Herald. Mr Joubert said he was considering legal action. Anyone interested in helping the family can contact Mrs Joubert at 072 510 2122.
