The Management of the Electricity, Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) has again been frog-Marched to Court for allegedly refusing to compensate one of its dying staff, John Sarra who was gruesomely involved in an fatal accident at Spur Loop axis, West End of Freetown while trying to repair faulty cable there.
In an interview with the victim, John Sarra, a former employee of EDSA that was attached to the Preventive and Maintenance department and his job description include the erection and installation of poles, running of high tension cable, rectifying feeder shortages, and faults, restore or repair damaged wires and poles.
Sarra informed that he decided to take the Management of EDSA at the Freetown High Court presided over by Justice Samuel O Taylor, because the management has vehemently refused to compensate him for losing both his two limbs while he on duty.
Sarra narrated his ordeal while tears raining down his eyes recalling on the 8th of June, he was allegedly instructed by his then supervisor, one Mr Jorgor to go and rectify a fault at spur Road, Wilberforce, because there was no power supply in that area .
He said based on the instruction of his boss he immediately went to Buluebell at Spur Road and upon his arrival there he called to informed the substation that he was about to start the repairs and that they should turn off the light before starting his work, which they did.
Sarra stated that he was still up the pole trying to finish the job, the substation, without informing him that they wanted to switch the current on, they instantaneously switched on the high tension current.
Sarra maintained that immediately they switched on the high tension current, he was shocked by the high voltage, trapped up the pole for several minutes, his limbs were completely burnt down into disrepair, before he was removed from that pole.
According to him, the manner in which his limbs were burnt down by the current, there was no means of patching them, so the Doctors advised for them be cut off, and this he said led to the amputation of his two limbs.
He said this accident has rendered him limbless and inflicted major injury on his right lower limb.
John Sarra maintained that after the incident, he was rescued by some people who rushed with him to Connaught Hospital but was later referred to 34 Military Hospital where he was hospitalized for several months.
He informed that EDSA started paying his medical bills for a short period and later abandoned him at the hospital without paying any further bills, this he said led to the deterioration of his health condition.
Sarra said “I was left to die, I decided to employ the services of my lawyers who then wrote a letter to them demanding EDSA to take full responsibility but reluctantly refused to complied” he said
According to Sarra, when the matter was called for hearing, EDSA’s lawyer appeared but could only asked for adjournment, this prompted the learned judge to asked EDSA’s legal team to submit an “affidavit in opposition”.
The matter comes up on Monday 28th October 2024.
