Brave volunteers tend to electrocuted man in flood waters

A man who was severely electrocuted by the flooded waters in Oxford was bravely attended to by St John Ambulance volunteers.  Sarah Curtis and Ian Quinton battled through flooded roads in their 4x4 vehicle to respond to the emergency call on Wednesday 25 July.

It was late morning on Wednesday when emergency help was desperately needed at the junction of Abingdon Road and Weir Lane in Oxford.  As they knew the road was flooded, Sarah and Ian took the 4x4 Landrover, flying down the road and literally making waves. When they arrived at the scene there were two men were sitting in a doorway and one of them had no shoes on his feet.

They immediately went to their aid and found that one of the men had been electrocuted by a bollard.  He had waded through the water despite only wearing flip flops and stood on the crossing area in the middle where there was a yellow bollard with the blue arrows on.  When he rested his hand on the bollard it sent an electric shock and intense pain right through his body. 

'It was terrible,' said Sarah Curtis.  'He could not speak, he tried to but his mouth would not form the words.  His eyes rolled back and he crashed backwards into the water as he began to have a seizure.  His friend dragged him out of the water but he also received a shock which fortunately for him was not as bad.'

When they looked at the patient they found that his feet were completely covered in burns and one was bleeding above the ankle - there was no cut or abrasion just seeping weak blood.

Everyone was concerned that the brave volunteers would be electrocuted too, as they were in the same water, but were well protected in thick rubber soled boots.

Sarah and Ian successfully attended to his wounds and took him to the John Radcliffe hospital in their 4x4 for further observation.