A Gwynneville man was taken to Wollongong Hospital with burns to 45 per cent of his body after he was found collapsed on Harry Graham Drive just before noon today.
Police believe the 36-year-old suffered an electric shock from 33,000-volt Illawarra Coal power lines located about 100 metres from the road on Sydney Catchment Authority land in Kembla Heights.
‘‘Our information is that he got up [the power pylon] by way of ladder and he also had a harness,’’ Wollongong duty officer Inspector Dan Richardson said.
‘‘He [suffered an electric shock] and managed to get down himself, run a short distance before he has fallen to the ground.’’
He was seen by a passing truck driver, who stopped to call emergency services, and was transported to hospital in a serious condition with burns to his chest and back.
This afternoon the man remained in a serious condition in Wollongong Hospital and was put into an induced coma.
Investigators and forensic police sealed off the site as a crime scene.
A car with a climbing rope in the back seat was found parked in front of access gates to restricted Sydney Water Catchment land.
Inspector Richardson said the investigation was continuing into how the electric shock occurred.
