RANDOLPH Thornhill, 14, of Lot 44 Victoria, East Coast Demerara, was electrocuted early yesterday morning when he came into contact with live electrical wires outside his house while trying to take down his kite. The unfortunate lad was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) sometime after he was taken there by family members.
His mother, Anita Thornhill, told the Guyana Chronicle that Randolph’s kite was up in the sky all night, and shortly after 06:00hrs, he was in process of taking it down before going to school when he came into contact with live electrical wires which burst from the utility pole after getting entangled with the twine from his kite, and he fell into the trench outside their yard.
She explained that he was on the bridge of the yard next door when the twine got tangled with the electrical wires, which snapped, causing the 14-year-old to be electrocuted, after which his lifeless body fell into the trench.
The grieving woman added that when the electrical wires burst and fell in front of her son, it was something she had never seen before, and there was nothing she could do because the wires also fell into the trench where Randolph had fallen.
Anita Thornhill said, “I see my son dying and I could do nothing to save him as he lay in the trench in front of their yard,” since she was prevented from touching him by neighbours and passersby.
The woman stated that her son was running for his life when hundreds of volts of electricity surged through his body and rendered him lifeless.
Mrs. Thornhill said that it was sometime before her son was taken from the trench, because they had to wait on the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) employees to arrive on the scene to disconnect the power.
She noted that GPL responded to the distress call, and repaired the damaged electrical wires before they left the scene, and electricity was later restored to the area.
The Ann’s Grove Secondary School pupil is the last of three siblings, and his death comes as quite a shock to many, who gathered at his home yesterday to comfort his family members.
Mrs. Thornhill said that prior to her son taking down his kite, he was also tasked with washing his father’s car, but he did not get to do that chore because he was killed.
She said the police also responded to the scene.
Mrs. Thornhill said, “I wouldn’t miss him now (yesterday morning), but after 3pm, I would, since it is that time he would return from school, and he would jump me as I lie in bed resting, and then we would chat.”
In light of this latest electrocution, GPL’s Chief Executive Officer, Bharat Dindyal said he was awaiting a report on the incident before issuing a statement; but, so far, it was reported that the teenager was trying to untangle his kite from the network when two conductors (electrical wires) burst, one fell on his head and he was electrocuted.
Dindyal added that it is unsure whether he was barefooted or had on any footwear; but being barefooted contributes to the amount of electricity that flows through a body.
He noted that the matter is being investigated by GPL, but in light of the upcoming Easter holidays, he advised that all kite flyers should, at all times, fly their kites in wide open spaces, away from electrical poles.