As one who has investigated a number of electric shocks, I would say that
Matthew's second explanation is the most likely. Articles on the web keep
getting changed but earlier today I saw mention of an underground pit in
the footpath being involved. I would think a damaged cable or an
uninsulated live end causing fault current to follow the path of least
resistance to earth. It doesn't have to be high voltage either, I recall a
fatality on the Gold Coast caused by a live end left in contact with the
ground near a hotel swimming pool. The ground was paved with stone slabs
that had lethal voltage potential between them.
huddo
On Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 5:47:48 AM UTC+10, David McLoughlin wrote:
>
>
> When I saw this story on the ABC last night, my first thought was that it
> was nonsense, and that the "victim" had imagined it (such imagination is a
> common pyschological phenomenon).
>
> The "victim" wasn't even walking on the track, which is not part of the
> APS system anyway, and has no overhead wire. Any "shock" could not be
> related to the track.
>
> If there was an "exposed wire" anywhere, it could not have been a tram
> wire.
>
> Then I see Dudley has linked a similar piece from the SMH.
>
> The skeptic in me is crying "rubbish.
>
>
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-11/teenager-suffers-electric-shock-on-light-rail/9857994
>
> > A 15-year-old girl has been hospitalised after suffering an electric
> shock while walking near an "exposed wire" at the light rail construction
> in Sydney's CBD.
>
> Anna Lambden had been at lunch with friends on Sunday when she took off
> her uncomfortable high heels and walked towards the train station in wet
> socks.
>
> As she waited at the intersection of George Street and Ultimo Road near
> Haymarket, she felt a sudden shock which felt like pins and needles
> coursing through her.
>
>
>
> --
> david mcloughlin, New Zealand
> "Holy writ requires unholy scrutiny."
>
>