Shortly before 1pm, two men were working on what is believed to have been a faulty transformer in the area of eMbalenhle in Mpumalanga. As they were removing the transformer box to replace it with a new one, it allegedly burst into flames in the men’s hands.
Both men, aged 47 and 31 sustained severe burns to there hands, arms, faces, stomachs and legs. ER24 paramedics at the scene said that the one mans beard had also been badly singed.
Both men were alert and walked out to meet the ambulance. Paramedics immediately started emergency treatment for the patients burns including giving both men medication for their pain as well as soothing their extensive burn wounds.
The reason for the fault in the transformer will need to be investigated, but that will be the duty of the safety officer on scene.
The men were taken to Highveld Medi Clinic for further treatment where they were in a serious but stable condition. Doctors later chose to transfer the two men to a specialised facility in Johannesburg for treatment.
Vanessa Jackson, ER24