Electric shock kills one, injures co-worker

A man is fighting for his life after 12 000 volts of electricity blasted through his body.

The man’s colleague was not as fortunate and died in the same tragic incident in Airport Industria on Friday morning.

Deceased Geoffrey Klaasen, 36, and Roger de Wet, 28, were standing on a scaffold five to six metres off the ground when tragedy struck.

The men, both from Connaught Estate, were hanging signage on a building when the scaffold touched a live cable.

Roger first felt a slight pain from the electricity and Geoffrey tried to help him.

Seconds later 12 000 volts were coursing through Geoffrey’s body.

He was left with serious burns and was unconscious.

Both men were immediately rushed to Tygerberg hospital.

Roger’s father Joseph Abrahams, 49, says they misjudged the height of the cable.

“They thought they could go under the cable but then it touched the scaffold,” he says.

“They were both unconscious but Roger regained consciousness about 45 minutes later.”

Joseph says doctors might have to amputate one of his son’s toes.

“He was badly burnt on his feet, back, hand and two of his toes are stuck together,” he says.

On Tuesday afternoon, Joseph was with his son at Tygerberg Hospital where he underwent surgery.

“He’s in surgery right now and doctors are possibly going to amputate his toe,” he says.

Meanwhile, Geoffrey was later declared brain-dead.

Efforts to save him were in vain after his blood pressure dropped and his heart weakened.

Geoffrey’s family refused to speak to the media after his passing.

Duane Buckley-Fawcett, owner of Bux Signs where the pair worked, was not immediately available for comment.

Supervisor Willie Nel also refused to comment on the matter.

*This article was published in the Daily Voice