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Georgia Marshall electrocuted helping get family Christmas decorations | Georgia Marshall electrocuted helping get family Christmas decorations |
(35 minutes later) | |
A teenage girl was electrocuted as she helped her father bring Christmas decorations down from the attic, an inquest in Cardiff has heard. | A teenage girl was electrocuted as she helped her father bring Christmas decorations down from the attic, an inquest in Cardiff has heard. |
Georgia Marshall, 13, was holding a metal step ladder into the loft when an exposed cable powering a light gave her a 240 volt electric shock. | |
She fell among boxes of baubles and tinsel on the landing of the home in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, in November. | She fell among boxes of baubles and tinsel on the landing of the home in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, in November. |
A verdict of accidental death was recorded. | A verdict of accidental death was recorded. |
The inquest heard her father Richard thought she was just playing a prank and continued carrying the Christmas tree down from the loft. | The inquest heard her father Richard thought she was just playing a prank and continued carrying the Christmas tree down from the loft. |
It was 10 minutes later, after two other members of her family had received minor shocks, that they realised what had happened and called for an ambulance. | It was 10 minutes later, after two other members of her family had received minor shocks, that they realised what had happened and called for an ambulance. |
Paramedics were unable to save tragic Georgia who died when an electric current passed through her heart. | Paramedics were unable to save tragic Georgia who died when an electric current passed through her heart. |
Dad-of-seven Richard, 54, told the inquest: "All the children were really excited about getting the Christmas decorations down. | Dad-of-seven Richard, 54, told the inquest: "All the children were really excited about getting the Christmas decorations down. |
"Georgia came onto the landing wearing her pyjamas, I think she grabbed both sides of the ladder. | "Georgia came onto the landing wearing her pyjamas, I think she grabbed both sides of the ladder. |
"I heard a thud and saw her lying on the floor on top of the cable. I thought it was a joke, she was always playing pranks on us. | "I heard a thud and saw her lying on the floor on top of the cable. I thought it was a joke, she was always playing pranks on us. |
"When I realised what had happened I was stunned, I was panicked and upset." | "When I realised what had happened I was stunned, I was panicked and upset." |
Insulation 'worn' | Insulation 'worn' |
Another child was up in the attic passing decorations down to Georgia's father when the accident happened. | Another child was up in the attic passing decorations down to Georgia's father when the accident happened. |
An inquest heard how the aluminium ladder had an extension cable wrapped around it which carried power up to a light bulb in the attic. | An inquest heard how the aluminium ladder had an extension cable wrapped around it which carried power up to a light bulb in the attic. |
But the cable's rubber insulation became worn exposing a live wire, sending a current of electricity in to the metal ladder. | But the cable's rubber insulation became worn exposing a live wire, sending a current of electricity in to the metal ladder. |
Paul Farley, an engineer with Western Power Distribution, told the inquest: "As the ladder had been put up and down over time the cable had worn through. | Paul Farley, an engineer with Western Power Distribution, told the inquest: "As the ladder had been put up and down over time the cable had worn through. |
"The live wire was exposed, if this wire came into contact the ladder then it would have become live. | "The live wire was exposed, if this wire came into contact the ladder then it would have become live. |
"If the electric current crossed Georgia's chest cavity it would have affected the heart." | "If the electric current crossed Georgia's chest cavity it would have affected the heart." |
Assistant Coroner Christopher Woolley told the Cardiff inquest that Georgia had died "almost instantly". | Assistant Coroner Christopher Woolley told the Cardiff inquest that Georgia had died "almost instantly". |
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