Electricity chiefs in warning to anglers
Pleasure fishermen are being encouraged to look around for overhead electricity lines.
Fishing rods and poles made from carbon fibre will conduct electricity, with many other materials also allowing electricity to flow along them when wet.
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This means that angling equipment does not even have to touch an overhead power line for anyone holding it to suffer an electric shock and burns that could result in death.
Geoff Earl, Northern Powergrid’s director of safety, health and the environment, said: “It’s crucial that anglers always check their surroundings for overhead lines and unpack and set up at the water’s edge once they are sure it’s safe to do so.”
“They should also pack up their rod at the water’s edge and never walk with it.”