Jogger killed after electricity cable crashes down in field and sets it alight - Mirror.co.uk

A jogger died after apparently running into a live electricity cable while out running.

Dr James Kew, 41, was out training with three members of his running club at around 8.40pm yesterday when the tragedy occurred.

It is understood Dr Kew, from Ashdon in Essex, was leading the pack when he ran into the 11,000 volt cable which was dangling from overhead.

As Dr Kew came into contact with the cable he completed an electrical circuit with the ground.

The current was so high it caused the surrounding field to set alight in front Dr Kew's shocked running partners.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were called but he Dr Kew died instantly, two days before his 42nd birthday. Two other runners suffered minor injuries.

The freak accident took pace in the middle of a crop field, which ran parallel to a public footpath.

Dr Kew had been running on a network of paths through farm and woodland to the east of Newport and about half a mile from the nearest road.

All electric cables have been secured and group of around 10 officers from UK power and police continue were today investigating the scene.

Detective Inspector Stephen Jennings visited the scene this morning where he met representatives of UK Power Networks.

He said: "We are investigating with the Health and Safety Executive and fire service to establish exactly how the man came into contact with the cable.

"This is a thankfully unusual event but it is obviously a tragedy for everybody involved."

Tragic scene: This is the field where Mr Kew was electrocuted

A spokesman for UK Power Networks today said: "Engineers were called to an incident at Saffron Walden and are currently helping with an investigation.

"Our thoughts at this time are with the family and friends of a man who died and also our employees who helped at the scene."

Peter Ascot, who lives in Newport, was out walking with a group of 10 at about 6.30pm yesterday.

He said: "We saw the cable hanging low and almost touching the wheat. We all remarked on it at the time.

"I woke up this morning and saw what happened. I feel absolutely dreadful that I didn't report it - you can't help feeling you could have done more.

"It's unbelievable this has happened. It's absolutely devastating."

The reason why the cable was hanging down is expected to form part of an investigation.

Dr Kew was a regular runner with the Saffron Striders based in Saffron Walden, Essex, as well as playing for Bishop's Stortford hockey club.

He was ranked first out of 58 in the club's championship and previously completed the London Marathon in three hours and five minutes, finishing 1,591st in the race.

He regularly ran 10km races in under 40 minutes and finished 33rd in this year's Hatfield Broad Oak 10k out of a field of more than 1,000 in a time of 37min 38sec.

In a statement, Saffron Striders said he was a relatively new recruit but had quickly established himself as one of the club's very best runners.

Chairman Nigel Coates said: "James joined us in 2010 and soon became an established club runner.

"He clearly had a natural aptitude for the sport and went on to compete with the club in various competitions and races.

"His greatest achievement during his time with the Striders was no doubt at this year's London Marathon.

"It was the first marathon he had ever run and he had predicted he would finish in what would have been an excellent time of three and a half hours.

"In fact, on the day he completed the race in an astonishing 3 hours 5 minutes, which made him the first Strider to finish and in a time that really was testament to just how good a runner he was."

Investigation: Police and electricity workers at the scene of the incident

He described Dr Kew as a "quiet and unassuming" character.

Mr Coates added: "He was a very popular member of the Striders who will be deeply missed.

"Everyone at the club is absolutely devastated by James's death and our thoughts go to his family at this incredibly difficult time.

"We would like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene last night."

Writing on Twitter, Bishops Stortford Hockey Club said: "Very sad news about 4th XI and Vets player James Kew who sadly died in a freak accident whilst running yesterday."

One online tribute to Dr Kew read: "tragic news about @StortfordHockey player James Kew: a lovely guy and good hockey player. Thoughts are with the Kew family."

Another friend wrote: "Very sad news about 4th XI and Vets player James Kew who sadly died in a freak accident whilst running yesterday. Condolences to Kew family."

Dr Kew joined the Centre of Excellence for External Drug Discovery in 2010 as a Director of Biology, which is a research department at GlaxoSmithKline.

Before joining the CEEDD, he spent eight years working within GSK's Central Nervous System drug discovery unit, most recently as Director of Molecular & Cellular Biology within the Schizophrenia & Cognitive Disorders Discovery Performance Unit.

Dr Kew obtained a B.Sc. in biological sciences at the University of Exeter and a Ph.D. in developmental neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.

He spent seven years within the CNS research group at F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.

Dr Kew has co-written more than 65 peer-reviewed publications.

For more of today's big stories check out our live breaking news blog.