Girl electrocuted at Baywalk park

A seven-year-old girl was electrocuted while playing at the Baywalk Park along Roxas Boulevard in Malate, Manila during a heavy downpour last Monday evening.

Police investigators said Jessa Tablan, of 118 Estrella street, Pasay City, accidentally stepped on one of the partially submerged electric ground fog lights adorning the Baywalk area, killing her.

The ground fog lights are protected with glass and steel braces from possible destruction from vandals.

"One of the fog lights may not have been properly insulated so when water came into contact it became highly electrified, sending volts of electricity to anyone who stepped on it," explained officer-on-case PO2 Carlos Santos.

Investigation showed that during the heavy downpour last Monday evening, Tablan was with two other girls playing in the rain and running barefoot on the Baywalk promenade.

She suddenly fell shaking after stepping on one of the ground fog lights near a coconut tree.

Baywalk workers rushed her to the Ospital ng Maynila, where she was declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza instructed the Fire Department and City Engineering Office to conduct a thorough probe on the accident.

"It was a very sad accident that nobody wanted to happen. I have asked attorney Emmanuel Sison, secretary to the mayor, to get in touch with her family and extend help."

He added that a confluence of events led to the accident.

"First, there was a thunderstorm, second the child was playing in the rain, and lastly the area was already flooded," he said.

This was the first time that a case of electrocution was reported in the Baywalk area. The mayor said extra measures would be made to ensure that it would not happen again.

As to early news reports of open wires, Atienza said the City Engineering Office and the Fire Department have looked into the report and did not find any. The two inspection offices were also told to check on the other electrical installations in the area and to submit a report on the incident at the soonest time possible.

Despite the accident, the mayor sees no reason to issue an advisory to the public who frequent the Baywalk area at night to enjoy the good food, music, ambiance and scenery.

"There is no cause for alarm. It is business as usual," he said.