Husband, wife electrocuted by hot water heater

KUANTAN - A married couple were found dead, believed to be due to electrocution in the bathroom at their flat in Taman Puncak Tringkap, Brinchang, Cameron Highlands on Thursday.

Pahang police chief Datuk Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said initial investigations revealed that the 46-year-old husband was taking a shower using the water heater before he was electrocuted and became unconscious.

According to Ramli, the victim's wife then went to check on her husband after she heard him scream.

“While she was checking in the bathroom, the victim shouted and asked her 10-year-old daughter to bring a piece of wood and tried to save him.

“However, she was also electrocuted before she lost consciousness,” he said when contacted on Thursday.

He said one of the couple's children called the emergency line to report the incident.

He added that the safety personnel arrived at the scene and found that there was still electric current around the bathroom.

"I was informed that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) were called to help turn off the electricity in the house," he said.

Meanwhile, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Assistant Director (Operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said they received a call at 9.20am and seven officers and members from the Cameron Highlands fire station were despatched to the scene.

Ismail said the two victims were later confirmed dead by the health officer who were in the rescue operation.

"The bodies of both victims were taken to the Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Hospital, Tanah Rata for post-mortem and the investigations on the incident was handed over to the police.

"The couple's children aged between two and 10 who were also at the house at the time of the incident were not injured," he said.