Family electrocuted putting up ham radio antenna

MPSCS · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 10:05 AM

Just a friendly reminder to be careful when putting up antennas!

STORY:
Family electrocuted putting up ham radio antenna

kc2rgw · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 10:45 AM

They don't show the antenna at all...I wonder if it really was a ham antenna?

Real shame though and so simple to avoid.

jobes · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 12:11 PM

That's sad. An entire family gone. Always double check you work area

WX4JCW · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 02:36 PM

The Family was from Haiti so English may have been an issue as far as reading warnings,
Our Prayers go out to the family

AYUDI · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 02:55 PM

according to the article on the ARRL site the mother is a ham and they were putting up the antenna for her.

gmclam · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 09:55 PM

I remember back when I was 11 and a CBer helping people put up a lot of antennas. I remember one day when I did not help that someone was electrocuted. Ever since it has dictated where I do these sort of things. For example a huge selling point for the house I have now is that the power comes in underground (no overhead lines).

One thing that most people do not realize is that few materials are a good insulator at high voltages. Touching such a live wire with a stick/etc could kill you.

K6PCW · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 11:02 PM

QRZ.COM Callsign KJ4KFF

FFPM571 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 11:23 PM

"Neighbors say they started putting the antenna up in the daylight but didn't stop after the sun set."

who puts up an antenna in the dark? That is just asking to get zapped......

BNSFrailfan · #9 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 08:35 AM

That is so

to hear this.