A tragic incident occurred in Thailand when a New Yorker lost his life due to a faulty streetlight. The man, identified as Thura Kyaw, 33, was electrocuted after slipping on a wet sidewalk and grabbing onto the malfunctioning light pole for support.
Kyaw was in the Thalang district of Thailand, heading to a seafood restaurant with his girlfriend around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. The weather was rainy, and the wet conditions caused him to lose his footing. In an attempt to regain balance, he reached out to a nearby streetlight, which unfortunately had a live wire.
The faulty streetlight delivered a powerful electric shock, rendering Kyaw unconscious. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, according to Police Major Thanom Thongpaen. Despite the quick response, Kyaw could not be saved.
A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, tried to assist Kyaw but was also shocked by the faulty streetlight. The witness managed to separate Kyaw from the light pole before calling for medical assistance.
Kyaw, who held dual citizenship in the United States and Burma, had traveled from New York to Thailand to visit his long-term girlfriend. According to a friend of the girlfriend, the couple had not seen each other in six years.
The friend, who was at the restaurant when the couple arrived, recounted the incident. He said that Kyaw’s girlfriend was leading the way when Kyaw slipped on the wet pavement and reached for the streetlight.
Following the incident, local officials disconnected the power to the light pole, which was carrying 220 volts of electricity, to prevent any further accidents. Kyaw was pronounced dead at Thalang Hospital. Further details about his residence in New York or his occupation were not immediately available.