An American tourist was killed by an electric shock as he slipped and grabbed a faulty streetlight for support in Phuket, Thailand.
The 33-year-old victim from New York was walking to a Phuket restaurant with his girlfriend when he slipped on a muddy sidewalk yesterday evening.
As he reached out to grab a streetlight to steady himself he was electrocuted and fell to the ground.
Dramatic CCTV footage showed passers-by rushing over to rescue the unconscious man. They administered CPR but could not revive him.
Police believe an exposed wire touched the wet metal, extending the current. The tourist then touched the surface and was killed.
Unfortunately, Thailand is a rapidly growing country but still faces developmental challenges such as outdated infrastructure, chronic flooding, traffic congestion, and air pollution.
Widespread corruption is also an issue hampering progress – with funds being siphoned to wealthy families or local officials instead of being spent on public services.
In the third world, one cannot become complacent and think safety is as an important issue as it is in first world countries.
Safety takes a backseat to profit in Thailand.
Electrocution, boat accidents, mini-vans, zip lines, you name it.
Always be aware that safety is not the main concern here.