High-ranking EMPD officer dies in tragic electrocution accident

An EMPD officer was electrocuted and died at the Estera substation in Germiston on Tuesday morning reports Germiston City News.

Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) were called to the scene at around.

“When the ambulance personnel arrived on scene, they found the EMPD officer,” explained William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for DEMS.

“The officer did not respond to initial treatment.”

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“Backup and the EMPD were called to the scene so that further assessment could be carried out on the patient.

“During this time, metro electrical technicians also arrived at the substation to isolate the power so that necessary in-depth medical treatment could be performed.”

Unfortunately, Roelof “Barries” Barnard, who was a chief superintendent for the Germiston North precinct, was declared dead on the scene.

Ntladi explained that reports from the scene alleged that a contractor employed by the metro had been at the substation to work on it.

“The officer allegedly saw the contractor on site and went to see what he was doing,” said Ntladi.

“While speaking to the contractor, the officer allegedly began to show him where the substation was being vandalised.

“This is when he was allegedly electrocuted.”

EMPD, who were on scene, handed over the scene to the Elsburg police for further investigation, and an inquest docket has been opened.

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