Man electrocuted while searching for yams identified

A St Mary man who was electrocuted after coming into contact with a high-voltage Jamaica Public Service (JPS) power line on Wednesday, January 21, has been identified.

He is 38-year-old Horace Gray, popularly known as "Winty", a farmer and mason of Mango Valley in the parish. Gray had celebrated his 38th birthday just over two weeks ago.

A grieving family member, Oswald Anderson, the deceased's eldest brother, said that Winty and six other men were taking part in what he described as an annual yam search at a property in Warry Castle, between Mango Valley and Fellowship Hall.

"This is a fun event in the community each year, and I was told that my brother discovered a particular yam vine," Anderson said.

"And as he mounted the hillside in the wild and heavily vegetated area and started tracing it back to the yam hill, I was told that his head came into contact with a high-tension power line. My understanding is that one of the men wanted to assist him, but was prevented from doing so by others, who were obviously in shock," he added.

Anderson said his brother was well loved in the community and was always willing to help others, including the elderly and children.

"I was at a grave-digging event in St Catherine when I got the sad news about his death," he said.

The police and JPS were contacted following the incident. According to Anderson, JPS later sent a senior employee who spoke with several family members and visited the area to get a firsthand look at where the power lines run.

The St Mary police have since confirmed that the incident was reported and said investigations are ongoing.

- Gareth Davis

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