A man is lucky to be alive after an attempted copper theft that involved cutting into an 11,000-volt underground line in Toowoomba, leaving him hospitalized in critical condition.
Emergency crews were dispatched to a Newtown service station on Tor Street shortly after 3 a.m. following reports that a 31-year-old man suffered severe burns to his chest and face.
The Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed he was transported to Toowoomba Hospital in a condition described as potentially life-threatening.
Ergon Energy provided details to the ABC, explaining the man allegedly used a knife to sever copper from a feeder pit on Ascot Street in Newtown. He sustained a high-voltage shock from the live underground cable, and officials noted there would likely have been an ensuing explosion that could have produced a fireball about two meters across.
“The person is lucky to be alive,” a spokesperson commented, adding that the fireball would have been hotter than the surface of the sun.
Police investigation
Queensland Police Service launched an inquiry into the incident after being alerted to the service station at 4:30 a.m. Investigators later found the man at Toowoomba Hospital in a critical state.
Police believe he managed to reach the service station approximately 250 meters away to seek help after the injury at the substation on Ascot Street.
Southern Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Doug McDonald expressed disbelief at the idea of approaching a live electrical line with a knife, calling it “the height of stupidity.” He noted the broader issue of metal theft, especially copper, as a major concern for law enforcement across the state.
McDonald said authorities are dedicating substantial resources to curb not only theft but also the purchase of stolen metal, describing the problem as an “absolute scourge” that risks public safety. Partnerships with other agencies are ongoing to prevent similar offenses, but he warned that offenders continually expose themselves and others to danger.
Copper versus aluminium policy
The Ergon Energy spokesperson added a crucial twist: the wire the man allegedly tried to cut was aluminum, not copper. This means someone could have sustained permanent injuries over a material with minimal value.
Ergon Energy spends about $4.5 million per year in Queensland addressing copper theft and plans to replace all wires with aluminum during future upgrades.
Power disruption
Around 800 Ergon Energy customers in Newtown experienced a temporary power outage spanning several hours as crews responded to the incident.
