CEBU, Philippines - A man sustained second and third degree burns after accidentally touching a high tension wire while hanging tarpaulin on a billboard frame along Salinas Drive, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City yesterday morning.
Jason Caballes, an employee of Alcordo Advertising, got electrocuted when he and two of his co-workers were hanging a tarpaulin.
The rescue operation reached 30 minutes before Caballes was extricated after he fell to the second floor from the billboard.
His colleague, who refused to be named, said they heard two explosions before they scampered away.
"Pag-ikaduha nanagan na mi kay abi namo mobuto ang transformer," he said.
LEFT BEHIND
Lando Genodio, who was around the area and witnessed the incident, said Caballes was left behind by his colleagues who immediately ran for help.
"Nanganaog sila unya nanawag og tabang. Ang duha wa ra naunsa. Siya ra nisaka gyud sa ibabaw," he said.
He clarified that it was Caballes who was snagged from the high-tension wire since the tarpaulin was already tied before the incident.
Christopher Echivarre, who was among the personnel of Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, said Caballes was totally burned.
He also claimed they did not respond late, saying their ambulance arrived first in the area. He shared that it was difficult to bring the victim down using a ladder from where he was retrieved.
Echivarre said Caballes was wearing gloves and a shirt while he was hanging the billboard but he added that something from the latter's body could have been a conductor of electricity that led to his electrocution.
He then reminded those who are hanging tarpaulins in billboards to always wear full safety gears to avoid any untoward incidents.
Caballes was rushed to Cebu City Medical Center and was later transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
ASSISTANCE
According to Rosaline Cagang, marketing manager of Alcordo Advertising, Caballes is not a direct employee of Alcordo but of LMT Construction, one of the sub-contractors tapped to put up the billboard.
Cagang said they will attend to the medical needs of the victim and will give aid to his family. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento (FREEMAN)