Man Who Attempted Suicide On High Voltage Power Lines Escapes From Hospital
Frank on the high voltage power lines
On Tuesday afternoon, residents in Mbarara City were left shocked after a young man in his 20s climbed up a high voltage transmission line in the middle of the city.
An eyewitness narrated that at around 2PM, the man only identified as Frank, a former street child from Isingiro District, walked into a nearby supermarket to beg for what to eat and once he was ignored, he decided to climb up the electric line.
Electricity was quickly turned off and Umeme arrived at the scene with the police who faced a hard time bringing him off the line for close to one hour. Luckily with the help of the sand filled Sino truck drive, Frank was rescued from the jaws of death unharmed.
Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson Samson Kasasira noted that the man was taken to Mbarara Regional Hospital and subjected to a mental check shortly after he was rescued from the electric line.
However, speaking to the press, Dr. Thomas Tutamwebwa Kabagambe, the principal psychiatry Clinical Officer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital refuted reports of the young man’s admission. He noted that police could have dumped him at the unit without the knowledge of the hospital staff and he might have escaped.
He further described Frank’s actions as a likely result of drug addiction and use of other substances that he claims can force a victim to do awkward things.
Kasasira noted that the case was not reported to the police station as they awaited results from the hospital. If found to be mentally stable, he will be charged for attempted suicide.
According to Dr. Thomas, such cases are on a rise and the facility receives an estimated 400 to 700 mental case patients per month, noting the 740 and 590 patients received in January and July 2020 respectively.
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