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Dr James Kew: Firm fined £1m after runner electrocuted Dr James Kew: Firm fined £1m after runner electrocuted
(about 11 hours later)
A power firm has been fined £1m after a man was electrocuted when he was hit by a fallen electricity cable while running in the countryside.A power firm has been fined £1m after a man was electrocuted when he was hit by a fallen electricity cable while running in the countryside.
Dr James Kew, 41, died instantly when he ran into the low-hanging cable in a field in Newport, Essex, in 2012. Dr James Kew, 41, died instantly when he ran into the low-hanging cable on a public footpath across a field in Newport, Essex, in 2012.
The fault had been reported to UK Power Networks earlier that day, but the company did not cut the power. The fault was reported to UK Power Networks earlier that day, but the company did not cut the power.
The firm admitted breaching health and safety laws and also has to pay costs of £153,000. It admitted breaching health and safety laws and must pay £153,000 costs.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard Dr Kew was out with members of the Saffron Striders running club on 24 July when he ran into the 11,000 volt cable which was hanging across a footpath. Dr Kew, of Ashdon, a director of biology at GlaxoSmithKline in Stevenage, was out with members of the Saffron Striders running club on 24 July.
An inquest into his death in 2014 heard a couple had reported the cable earlier that day and had put a makeshift pile of sticks around it, but Mr Kew hit it before an engineer arrived. Chelmsford Crown Court heard he ran into the 11,000 volt cable, which at its lowest point was just 4ft 9in (1.5m) above the ground.
It had fallen because a porcelain insulator securing it to a wooden pole had disintegrated, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.
An inquest into his death in 2014 heard a couple had reported the cable earlier that day and had put a makeshift pile of sticks around it.
The HSE said UK Power Networks was aware of the location and could have immediately "de-energised" the network, but instead sent out an engineer.
Donation urged
Mr Kew was killed 20 minutes before the engineer arrived.
UK Power Networks said it had since changed its policy so that when similar issues are reported, power is turned off before technicians are sent out.UK Power Networks said it had since changed its policy so that when similar issues are reported, power is turned off before technicians are sent out.
Barry Hatton, the company's director of asset management, said: "Ever since the tragic accident our thoughts have been with Dr Kew's family and friends and [we] are acutely aware of its permanent consequences for them.Barry Hatton, the company's director of asset management, said: "Ever since the tragic accident our thoughts have been with Dr Kew's family and friends and [we] are acutely aware of its permanent consequences for them.
"Safety is out top priority... we urge anyone who sees equipment they feel may be dangerous to call us immediately on 0800 316 3105.""Safety is out top priority... we urge anyone who sees equipment they feel may be dangerous to call us immediately on 0800 316 3105."
Dr Kew, of Ashdon, was director of biology at GlaxoSmithKline in Stevenage and also played for Bishop's Stortford Hockey Club. The HSE said people who had witnessed Dr Kew's death had suffered severe trauma and stress-related illness.
Dr Kew's father, Jeremy, said his death was a great loss to the family and to medical research.
"I think it's a tremendous pity that the network controller did not think to ask [the caller] to remain on site to warn off any members of the public who were coming down the footpath.
"Sadly, they did not have sufficient protocols in place to deal with the situation that evening."
He urged UK Power Networks to make a generous donation to Action Duchenne, a muscular dystrophy charity which funds research that Dr Kew had been involved in.