Couple electrocuted after yacht hits power lines
The couple remain in a stable condition in hospital after their yacht hit power lines on the Isle of Harris, Western Isles in Scotland.
The couple were moving their yacht on a trailer at Ardhasaig Jetty on the Isle of Harris when the mast hit live power lines.
Both of them were electrocuted in the incident.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) received a call just after 3pm on 12 June from the Scottish Ambulance Service requiring assistance.
Coastguard shore teams from Tarbert and Scalpay responded, helping paramedics in getting one of the casualities from the yacht into an ambulance.
The couple were taken to the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway, Lewis, where they are said to be in a stable condition.
A spokesman for the MCA said the yacht was between two power cables.
Engineers from Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution were called in to remove the mast and make the area safe.
A spokesman for the electric company said: “Our engineers attended Ardhasaig, where the mast of a yacht had struck our overhead line. The boat was being moved with its mast fully erect and struck the line.”
He added: “Industry regulations state that the minimum height of power lines should be 5.8 metres across roads and paths, the line that was struck was 7.3 metres from the ground. In order for our engineers to extricate the mast from the line, the power was turned off for approximately one hour.”
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