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."

>

>