Man dies after being electrocuted by power lines
A 38-year-old man died on Saturday night after tripping on a power line that came down in the storms that blazed through Sydney in the late afternoon.
More than 15,000 lightning strikes were recorded across Sydney. One of them hit a power pole in Punchbowl and brought down the lines that fell across the driveway of a house in Acacia Avenue.
Just after 10.30pm, a man left the house and walked down the driveway, where police believe he tripped on a wire and was electrocuted.
Neighbours came out of their homes and attempted to untangle him from a power line that had wrapped around his legs but were unsuccessful, police said.
By the time emergency crews arrived at 10.33pm the man was motionless.
However, it was at least another 45 minutes before they could attempt to rescue him, after they had to wait for the energy provider to turn off the power and then for the residual power to subside.
NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Mick Henly said residual power was still coming from the line at 11.14pm.
"There was a wait from the time of call," Superintendent Henly said.
"We wouldn't send firefighters into an area that was unsafe."
Ambulance officers declared the man deceased at the scene.
"He obviously received a significant electrical shock," Superintendent Henly said.
"One of the messages we always put out is treat power lines or any electrics as live, because without knowing the status of those lines they can definitely do some serious damage to you."
The strong southerly change that swept through Sydney on Saturday afternoon brought lighting and heavy rain to parts of the city.
Officers from Bankstown Local Area Command established a crime scene, but the death is not being treated as suspicious.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.