Teenager electrocuted in Pilar town

CEBU, Philippines — A Grade 11 male student was found dead stuck to a jackfruit tree after he was electrocuted in Barangay Villahermosa, Pilar, Cebu on Sunday morning.

Police identified the fatality as Yves Romo, 16, a resident of Barangay Villahermosa.

Police Officer 3 Erwin Rebada of Pilar Police Station said that the victim was climbing the jackfruit tree and cutting branches to feed their cow when some parts of the branch he was cutting touched a live wire connected to an electric post just beside the tree.

“Pagputol ani niya kay ang dahon sa sanga kay naadto sa wire nga gidudahan nga live hinungdan nga nakuryentihan ang biktima. Nipilit gyud ni siya sa kahoy,” said Rebada in a phone interview with The FREEMAN.

The younger sibling of the victim who saw his brother stuck lifeless to the tree immediately called for help.

Pilar police and a team from Camotes Electric Cooperative (CELCO) immediately responded to the alarm and retrieved the body of the victim less than an hour after the incident occurred.

They still tried to rush the victim to the nearest hospital but he was already unresponsive.

Rebada said that the family has yet to decide whether they will file a formal complaint against CELCO.

The electric company has assured the victim’s family that it will shoulder the burial expenses. (FREEMAN)