A Peddie family is rejoicing after their 12-year-old son survived after being shocked for up to five minutes by a live overhead power line that had been cut by strong winds.
The cable was sliced through by zinc roof sheeting driven through the air by violent gusts of wind during Sunday’s storm.
It may have been a wonderful recovery for doctors and nurses who brought him back to life, but for the family of Peddie boy Pumelela Mpalala, it was a miracle.
Villagers were praised for finding a way to disentangle the boy from the live 220-240 volt cable, and then providing basic first aid.
The incident happened when the driver of a school bus noticed the wire lying in the road and asked Pumelela to move it.
The Daily Dispatch caught up with the family at Nompumelelo hospital where Pumelela spent three days in the children’s ward.
Pumelela’s father, Lisolakhe Mpalala, who arrived on the scene to see his son lying absolutely still with foam coming from his mouth, refused to believe his son was dead.
He scooped his son into his arms, put him in his car and prayed as he rushed him to hospital.
“The doctors and nurses have the story to tell of how they saved him,” Lisolakhe said.
“Everyone in the village said he was dead. I saw that too. He could not breathe. Foam was coming out of his mouth. I prayed that this should not be my son’s last breath.”
Yesterday Pumelela said: “I cannot remember what happened, but I am in pain. I am told that I was shocked by live power lines.”
The incident happened after a storm slammed into the Eastern Cape coastline and midlands on Sunday night.
Peddie and surrounding villages were hit by strong winds that tore off roofs.
One of the first on the scene was Nophelela Mpalala, the victim’s aunt.
“We thought he was dead. He was quiet with his eyes closed. We managed to get a piece of wood and carefully move him away from the wire and then villagers worked together to make sure that he was warm.”
When Lisolakhe arrived some people tried to turn him away, thinking he could not handle what he was about to see. “School kids were crying and I became weak thinking he was no more.
“I had to save him. I didn’t know what I was doing but I grabbed him and loaded him in my car. We couldn’t wait for an ambulance, but thanks to the hospital staff members who speedily assisted us.
“Those villagers who found that piece of wood to remove the wire saved his life,” he said.
Lisolakhe said he was worried that his son had no memory of the incident.
“I am worried about this. We need to ask for more tests to make sure that he’s fine. This could come back later and hit him hard,” he said.
Pumelela, a grade 7 pupil at German Village primary school outside Peddie, suffered a deep wound to his left hand. “I want to go and write my exams,” he said yesterday.
Eskom spokesman Zama Mpondwana said the matter was being investigated.
“Such incidents happen, especially during severe weather conditions, and we urge communities to join our ongoing public safety campaigns that are aimed at avoiding incidents of electrocution and loss of lives due to contact with electricity,” said Mpondwana.
lEskom appealed to customers to report loss of electricity supply and low-hanging conductors to 08600-37566. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Boy, 12, lucky to be alive after power line shock
The cable was sliced through by zinc roof sheeting driven through the air by violent gusts of wind during Sunday’s storm.
It may have been a wonderful recovery for doctors and nurses who brought him back to life, but for the family of Peddie boy Pumelela Mpalala, it was a miracle.
Villagers were praised for finding a way to disentangle the boy from the live 220-240 volt cable, and then providing basic first aid.
The incident happened when the driver of a school bus noticed the wire lying in the road and asked Pumelela to move it.
The Daily Dispatch caught up with the family at Nompumelelo hospital where Pumelela spent three days in the children’s ward.
Pumelela’s father, Lisolakhe Mpalala, who arrived on the scene to see his son lying absolutely still with foam coming from his mouth, refused to believe his son was dead.
He scooped his son into his arms, put him in his car and prayed as he rushed him to hospital.
“The doctors and nurses have the story to tell of how they saved him,” Lisolakhe said.
“Everyone in the village said he was dead. I saw that too. He could not breathe. Foam was coming out of his mouth. I prayed that this should not be my son’s last breath.”
Yesterday Pumelela said: “I cannot remember what happened, but I am in pain. I am told that I was shocked by live power lines.”
The incident happened after a storm slammed into the Eastern Cape coastline and midlands on Sunday night.
Peddie and surrounding villages were hit by strong winds that tore off roofs.
One of the first on the scene was Nophelela Mpalala, the victim’s aunt.
“We thought he was dead. He was quiet with his eyes closed. We managed to get a piece of wood and carefully move him away from the wire and then villagers worked together to make sure that he was warm.”
When Lisolakhe arrived some people tried to turn him away, thinking he could not handle what he was about to see. “School kids were crying and I became weak thinking he was no more.
“I had to save him. I didn’t know what I was doing but I grabbed him and loaded him in my car. We couldn’t wait for an ambulance, but thanks to the hospital staff members who speedily assisted us.
“Those villagers who found that piece of wood to remove the wire saved his life,” he said.
Lisolakhe said he was worried that his son had no memory of the incident.
“I am worried about this. We need to ask for more tests to make sure that he’s fine. This could come back later and hit him hard,” he said.
Pumelela, a grade 7 pupil at German Village primary school outside Peddie, suffered a deep wound to his left hand. “I want to go and write my exams,” he said yesterday.
Eskom spokesman Zama Mpondwana said the matter was being investigated.
“Such incidents happen, especially during severe weather conditions, and we urge communities to join our ongoing public safety campaigns that are aimed at avoiding incidents of electrocution and loss of lives due to contact with electricity,” said Mpondwana.
lEskom appealed to customers to report loss of electricity supply and low-hanging conductors to 08600-37566. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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