James Kew killed by high-voltage electricity cable while out on run

 
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Olivia Selka26 July 2012

A running club member was killed by a high-voltage cable today just two days before his 42nd birthday.

Health and safety executives are investigating the incident in which pharmaceutical boss James Kew, 42, was killed after apparently running into the low-hanging cable.

Mr Kew, 41, from the Saffron Walden area, was out jogging with three other people when he collided with the cable in a field near Newport, Essex, at about 8.40pm yesterday.

It is thought the cable, which carried about 11,000 volts, was hanging across the path.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were called but Mr Kew died instantly. Two other people suffered minor injuries.

Detective Inspector Stephen Jennings visited the scene this morning and met representatives of UK Power Networks.

He said: "We are investigating with the Health and Safety Executive and Fire Service to establish exactly how the man came into contact with the cable.

"This is a thankfully unusual event but it is obviously a tragedy for everybody involved."

Mr Kew, a top biologist within the research department at GlaxoSmithKline, was a member of the Saffron Striders running club.

His running club paid tribute to him today.

Striders chairman Nigel Coates said: “James joined us in 2010 and soon became an established club runner. He clearly had a natural aptitude for the sport and went on to compete with the club in various competitions and races.

“His greatest achievement during his time with the Striders was no doubt at this year’s London Marathon. It was the first marathon he had ever run and he had predicted he would finish in what would have been an excellent time of three and a half hours.

“In fact, on the day he completed the race in an astonishing 3 hours 5 minutes, which made him the first Strider to finish and in a time that really was testament to just how good a runner he was.

“James was quiet and unassuming and a very popular member of the Striders who will be deeply missed.

“Everyone at the club is absolutely devastated by James’ death and our thoughts go to his family at this incredibly difficult time. We would like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene last night.”

Mr Kew had been running on a network of paths through farm and woodland to the east of Newport and about half a mile from the nearest road.

It is thought his running mates raised the alarm.

Peter Ascot, who lives in Newport, was out walking with a group of 10 at about 6.30pm yesterday.

He said: "We saw the cable hanging low and almost touching the wheat. We all remarked on it at the time.

"I woke up this morning and saw what happened. I feel absolutely dreadful that I didn't report it - you can't help feeling you could have done more.

"It's unbelievable this has happened. It's absolutely devastating."

A spokesman for UK Power Networks refused to comment on reports locally that the low-hanging cable had been reported earlier in the evening.

He added: "Our engineers were called to an incident at Saffron Walden last night and are currently helping with an investigation.

"Our thoughts at this time are with the family and friends of a man who died and also our employees who helped at the scene."

An area of wheat field was cordoned off today.

The area has been made safe but pieces of cable were still visible laying in the field. Only two of the usual three power cables hung overhead.

A small patch of blackened grass marked the spot where the man died.

Mr Kew was an experienced runner and is currently ranked first out of 58 in the Saffron Striders Championship 2012.

He had previously completed the London Marathon in three hours and five minutes, finishing 1,591st in the race.

He regularly ran 10km races in less than 40 minutes.

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