Harrowing warning to father before he was electrocuted by powerline
Witnesses who watched helplessly as a Sydney man died when he was electrocuted in the city’s southwest said he was trying to put out a fire with a garden hose.
Pharmacist Dr Hossam Ibrahim and his family were woken up on Saturday night at their home in Punchbowl by the sound of powerlines exploding.
Dr Ibrahim tried to douse the flames with a garden hose before he was electrocuted and killed, witnesses said.
Family and neighbours had begged him to step away from the cables before tragedy struck.
Witness David Andraos said the father-of-three died as soon as he was “zapped”.
“Face-first on the floor, blood everywhere,” he said.
“It wasn’t nice. His clothes lit up as well, his pants where he was hit with the wire were in flames.”
Mr Andraos added he couldn’t do anything to help Dr Ibrahim.
A passerby had to stop the children from going near their father as electricity pulsed through his body. A live cable was also nearby.
Paramedics were forced to wait half an hour to get to him too as the electricity had to be switched off.
NSW Ambulance Inspector John Brotherhood said “unfortunately” everyone could only watch until it was safe.
One of the first responders was also a friend of the father.
“And when they got in there they were unable to do anything,” Inspector Brotherhood said.
“It’s absolutely horrific and to be honest, it’s gut-wrenching.”
He’s now being remembered as a loving father and devoted community man.
Friend Ismail Shoubra said he was “helpful for anyone”.
“One of the best guys I have ever seen in my life,” he said.
Ausgrid is working with police to determine how the powerlines snapped.
