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Police say a man has learnt his lesson after he received a severe electric shock and burns when climbing on top of railway carriages last night.
Senior Sergeant Graham Shields of Hamilton Police said the 19-year-old was hospitalised with severe burns after climbing on the carriages in Te Rapa about 10pm.
The man's friends and girlfriend watched as he climbed onto the carriages and began walking around on top.
"Unfortunately he got too close to the overhead power supply...," Mr Shields said.
The man was thrown to the ground and received serious burns to the upper lefthand side of his body.
Mr Shields said it was believed the man did not touch the powerline, but got close enough that the current arced across to him.
Police would usually prosecute anyone found unlawfully on railway property, however, Mr Shields said in this case the man was unlikely to be charged.
Toll Rail group general manager Joe Garbellini issued a plea today for people not to wander onto rail sites and to treat the areas as any other dangerous working sites.
"Te Rapa has always had an issue with people wandering through the area ... and last night's accident is sadly a real reminder of why the public should not venture onto such properties."
Mr Garbellini said his thoughts were with the family of the young man involved.
- NZPA
