CEBU, Philippines - A 42-year-old man died after he got electrocuted while collecting coconut leaf buds in Barangay Zaragoza, Aloguinsan town Saturday afternoon.
The victim was identified as Ricky Mabano, a resident of Barangay Olango, Aloguinsan.
Upon investigation, Aloguinsan police learned that the victim and his brother Jerome, 28, had been climbing up a coconut tree gathering leaf buds used for making puso.
The coconut tree was standing very close to a primary electrical line of the Cebu Electric Cooperative (CEBECO) III running 7,620 volts of electricity.
A leaf bud fell and snagged on the wire and when the victim retrieved it, his hand accidentally touched the high voltage wire.
Linemen from CEBECO III arrived and helped bring the victim's body down from the tree.
Aloguinsan police together with the relatives rushed the victim to Pinamungajan District Hosptal but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. (FREEMAN)