Boy trying to free kite from wire electrocuted in Lapu-Lapu City

An 11-year-old boy was electrocuted when he tried to untangle his kite from an electric wire in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City.

“Mark,” real name withheld, was seen sprawled on the roof of the daycare center in Sitio Matumbo.

The incident caused a commotion which called the attention of Mark’s father, his uncle, and a male neighbor who rushed to the rooftop to respond to the victim.  

The mother of Mark’s playmate said she warned a couple of times her child and Mark against flying their kites because of the ubiquitous electric wires.

In fact, she said, another neighbor warned Mark just before the boy went up the roof.

The incident caused a brief power outage in the sub-village of Matumbo.  

Personnel of the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office responded to the scene and rushed the patient to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital.

According to Dr. Debrah Custodio, hospital administrator, the boy sustained second-degree burns.

She said they have given the boy proper hydration prior to his laboratory examination. 

Mark's parents decided to have him transferred to a private hospital where he is now recuperating.

Based on City Ordinance No.16-033-A-2022, kite-flying is being regulated in Lapu-Lapu City primarily because of the operations at Mactan Cebu International Airport.

The ordinance has stipulated that parents or legal guardians are the ones responsible in guiding their children against kite-flying. —GMA Regional TV