Daredevil teenager who plunged 100ft to his death after 66,000-volt pylon shock was 'scared of heights'



Michael Lee O'Nion was elctrocuted when he climbed a 100ft pylon

A 15-year-old schoolboy electrocuted after clambering 100ft up an electricity pylon was terrified of heights, his family revealed yesterday.

Michael Lee O'Nion was climbing the tower and accidentally touched the 66,000-volt power lines.

He was thrown off by the shock and friends saw him fall to his death on barbed wire 20ft above the ground that had been put up round the pylon to deter people from climbing it.

Michael's father Lee, a 39-year-old lorry driver fought back the tears at the family home in Flanderwell, Rotherham yesterday



He said: "He is the last person in the world I would expect to climb up like this.



"He was a daredevil , he loved a laugh and a joke but he was frightened of heights and wasn't embarrassed to admit it.



'We recently went on holiday to the seaside and it took us three days to persuade to go on one of the white knuckle rides.



'So whether he had overcome his fear or whether it was because all his mates were there I don't know.



'He was a loveable rogue but I don't why he did this. I have been to the pylon to see and I can't understand why he went up there.



'I miss him so much . I loved him so much . I can't believe this has happened.'



Paramedics and fire officers arrived within minutes but he was pronounced dead at the scene near Rotherham.

The youngster was killed after he jumped off the pylon as part of a dare

The boy, named locally as Michael O'Nion, is believed to have lived with his family nearby.

They have been informed but he has yet to be formally identified.

A specialist rescue team had to use high rise access equipment to free the body. Police sealed off the surrounding woodland.

Maltby, Wickersley and Thrybergh areas of South Yorkshire had electricity cut for up to 30 minutes as the recovery operation was carried out.

Friends left flowers at the scene with messages. One read: 'Can't believe you're gone Mickey.'



Supt Keith Lumley of South Yorkshire Police said : 'The woods in this area are popular as a play area for local youngsters and the dead boy was with a group of friends when this happened.

'The pylon is about 30m high and carrying about 66,000 volts.



Friends and family lay flowers and tributes at the base of the electrical Pylon where the 15-year-old died

'There are barbed wire barriers to stop anyone climbing up the pylon but it seems this boy climbed over these to the power lines.

'At some point he made contact and the power arced and he was thrown part of the way down the pylon.

'This is a terrible tragedy and underlines how dangerous it is for anyone to climb these pylons. It may seem like fun and adventurous but is obviously extremely dangerous.'

Station manager Stephen Copp of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was a complicated and difficult operation to free the boy's body.

Thousands of homes in the Maltby, Wickersley and Thrybergh areas of South Yorkshire had electricity cut for up to 30 minutes during the recovery operation.