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| Boy survives 200,000 volt shock | Boy survives 200,000 volt shock |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A teenager is recovering in hospital after a 200,000-volt electric shock which threw him 25ft (7.6m) onto a live railway line in Wigan. | A teenager is recovering in hospital after a 200,000-volt electric shock which threw him 25ft (7.6m) onto a live railway line in Wigan. |
| Sam Cunningham, 16, was wearing steel toecaps when he tried to retrieve a rugby ball from a bridge and a charge leapt from overhead power lines. | Sam Cunningham, 16, was wearing steel toecaps when he tried to retrieve a rugby ball from a bridge and a charge leapt from overhead power lines. |
| He fell onto the track below and was knocked unconscious but did not get electrocuted. | |
| He suffered severe burns and is expected to make a full recovery. | |
| His friends called emergency services, who alerted the rail networks to stop trains on the main line between Manchester and Wigan. | His friends called emergency services, who alerted the rail networks to stop trains on the main line between Manchester and Wigan. |
| When Sam, who suffered burns to his legs, arm, back and face, came round, he managed to call his mother Ann. | |
| The mother-of-four immediately went to the track, at Platt Bridge. | The mother-of-four immediately went to the track, at Platt Bridge. |
| He said he just remembers seeing a flash and then feeling himself spinning around Ann, Sam's mother | He said he just remembers seeing a flash and then feeling himself spinning around Ann, Sam's mother |
| Ms Cunningham, 40, a health care assistant, said: "I got there within a couple of minutes and all his clothes had been burned off, he was shaking from head to toe and the line was still live. | Ms Cunningham, 40, a health care assistant, said: "I got there within a couple of minutes and all his clothes had been burned off, he was shaking from head to toe and the line was still live. |
| "All his hair had been singed and smoke was coming from the bandages paramedics had put on his legs. | "All his hair had been singed and smoke was coming from the bandages paramedics had put on his legs. |
| "My head was just in bits and I can't believe that he is still alive - I don't think anybody can. | "My head was just in bits and I can't believe that he is still alive - I don't think anybody can. |
| "Sam can't remember much about what happened. | "Sam can't remember much about what happened. |
| "He said he just remembers seeing a flash and then feeling himself spinning around." | "He said he just remembers seeing a flash and then feeling himself spinning around." |
| She added: "He is still very sore but he has not lost his sense of humour. He's a typical Wigan lad and is missing his pies." | She added: "He is still very sore but he has not lost his sense of humour. He's a typical Wigan lad and is missing his pies." |
| Sam, a labourer, is being treated in the specialist burns unit at Whiston Hospital, Merseyside. | Sam, a labourer, is being treated in the specialist burns unit at Whiston Hospital, Merseyside. |
| He will require skin grafts but is expected to make a full recovery and be back home next week. | He will require skin grafts but is expected to make a full recovery and be back home next week. |
| A British Transport Police spokesman said: "That (railway) line is 750,000 volts and he is very lucky to be alive. A shock such as that can be fatal. | A British Transport Police spokesman said: "That (railway) line is 750,000 volts and he is very lucky to be alive. A shock such as that can be fatal. |
| "We would like to reinforce that the railway environment is a highly dangerous place and advise that no person should go on or near the railway lines in any circumstances." | "We would like to reinforce that the railway environment is a highly dangerous place and advise that no person should go on or near the railway lines in any circumstances." |