Police officers in Rotherham are warning members of public about the dangers of trespassing at electricity substations.

On the evening of Saturday 10th April, officers were called to an electrical substation on Green Lane, Thurcroft.

A 21-year-old man from the local area received serious burns to his head, chest and arms after coming into contact with wiring within the compound. It is believed that he was exposed to as much as 66,000volts and is now being treated for his injuries at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield. He is currently in intensive care and his condition is described as serious but stable.

When officers arrived at the scene, it was apparent that a gate into the compound had been forced open and metal piping had been removed.

People who enter these substations illegally are not only putting themselves at risk, but may cause potential dangers for staff who work on the site.

Electricity substations, such as this one, have numerous signs warning the public that entry will pose a risk of injury with potentially fatal consequences. Despite these warnings, some people still wrongly believe they can enter a compound and safely strip the copper and other metals that form part of the system’s Isolators. These Isolators operate at high voltage and can deliver an electric shock, even if care is taken not to touch the live wires.

Peter McCormick is Director of Health and Safety at CE Electric UK – the company that owns the electricity distribution network in the North East, Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire. He said: “The perpetrator has received an excruciating electric shock and has been left with horrific burns. He is extremely lucky to be alive.

“To the untrained and uninitiated, substations are potentially fatal and in the past our staff have discovered charred bodies in substations after similar incidents.

“Each time one of our substations is broken into, up to 30,000 properties can be left without electricity. This isn’t just a massive inconvenience for everyone left scrabbling around in the dark, but for some people – like those who rely on medical equipment – a power cut can have serious consequences.

“What’s more, those responsible invariably leave these extremely dangerous sites wide open and insecure for passing children to wander into.

“It’s bad enough that this individual has put his own life on the line, but the total lack of concern for the safety of others is unforgivable.”

The public are asked to seriously consider the consequences of entering electricity substations and any would-be thieves should ask themselves if stealing metal from these sites is worth the high risk of being injured or killed. The warning signs are there for a reason and as this recent incident shows, the dangers are very real.

If anyone sees any suspicious activity at these sites, the advice is to stay clear of the facilities and report the incident straight away.