Two in hospital after contact with high voltage cable

Two Moutere sisters are in Nelson Hospital with severe burns today after coming into contact with an 11,000 volt cable in a freak camping accident at Golden Bay.

The women suffered burns to about 20 per cent of their bodies, including the abdominal area and hands, after a steel pole they were holding hit an overhead power line in Golden Bay Holiday Park at Tukurua Beach at 1.30pm yesterday.

A 75-year-old woman was in a comfortable condition in hospital today. Her 68-year-old sister was in a stable condition.

Golden Bay Holiday Park manager Neville Clyne said the two women were hurt when a gazebo they were erecting was blown up by a strong gust of wind and hit the power line about 12m overhead.

The accident caused a power cut to 140 residents in the area for more than an hour.

Mr Clyne said one of the sister's husbands was also holding one of the steel gazebo poles, but was wearing work boots with rubber soles which protected him from the electric shock. Both women were wearing sneakers.

Mr Clyne said it was a "freak accident" and "most unfortunate".

He rushed down to the campsite after the incident and found both women lying on the ground.

He said a man at the campsite had tried to take precautions by tying a rope on to the gazebo to stop it billowing.

Nelson St John ambulance station officer Gary Tobin said the Nelson Marlborough Community Trust Rescue Helicopter flew the women to Nelson Hospital.

Network Tasman Limited chief executive Wayne Mackey said the company and the Electrical Safety Service were carrying out investigations into the accident.

Acting Nelson Bays police area commander Detective Inspector John Winter said police would not be carrying out an investigation into the "act of god" accident.
However, he said it was a reminder for people to be careful when camping and be aware of overhead wires.

- NZPA