It may not have been his first time, but it surely was the last for a 47-year-old man who died while he was reportedly in the process of stealing electricity on Sunday.
Police reports summarise that Donovan Harriot, a labourer of Lionel Town in Clarendon, was electrocuted some time around 7 p.m. after getting entangled in light wires.
Sources from the Clarendon police told THE STAR that another man was severely burnt and had to be rushed to hospital after trying to help Harriot when he was electro-cuted. The police say that their investigations have revealed that Hariott was somewhat of an expert at the activity which led to his death. He was said to be among a handful of men from the community whose 'expertise' was regularly solicited by those who wanted illegal electrical connections, or repairs, done.
"Based on what residents are saying, it seems this was a regular thing for him ... It is really sad that this happened, but people should use this as an example because it is extremely dangerous," an inspector told THE STAR.
When contacted, one resident from the community claimed Hariott was paid at least $1,000 for his service or, in some cases, he would simply request a drink for his labour. "More time, when nobody waan bridge light a dem man deh get di work ... Dem man deh a expert pon it eno...It jus sad seh him lose him life da way deh still ... Him was a good man too eno, him did cool," he said. "A couple man bout di place weh do it, but a him a di real link to it. Dem man deh jump up pon pole like any monkey." Efforts to get in contact with family members of the deceased man were unsuccessful.
should serve as a deterrent to others as it thousands of volts of electricity you a deal wid and yu done know seh dem nuh have the proper safety gear. It tough pon dem yes but yu nuh sey a the ppl when pay them bills haffi cover fi the ones that don't memba that.