A 7-year-old Napier boy has died after being electrocuted outside his grandparents' home in Tamatea yesterday afternoon. The boy is believed to have been swinging on a metal waratah stake in the ground where electricity cables had been laid on Westminister Ave. The incident happened about 2pm. The stake, about 1.5m long,was being used to protect a piece of newly laid lawn between the footpath and the fence. Senior Sergeant Tony Dewhirst, of the Napier police, said the boy was found by his grandfather. Two passersby called emergency services. Ambulance crews worked for nearly half-an-hour to try to resuscitate the boy but he died at the scene. Mr Dewhirst said police and power company Unison were investigating. Early indications were the cables were buried at the correct depth. The case has been referred to the coroner.
