Coroner issues report after electrocution of runner in Cumbria
Recommendations made after rare electricity fault leads to death of Harry Oates
A coroner has issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report, after the death of 27-year-old Harry Oates, who was fatally electrocuted during a training run in Cumbria in October 2023.
HM Senior Coroner for County of Cumbria, Kirsty Gomersal, described the sequence of events leading to Harry’s death as "rare and complex", but emphasised the need for actions to prevent future occurrences.
Harry died on 27th October 2023, while running through a field at Badger Gate, Lupton, near Carnforth. He came into contact with a low-hanging live electricity conductor, which had been displaced days earlier due to the failure of two porcelain tension disc insulators.
An investigation revealed voids in the insulator’s cement, introduced during manufacturing, were central to the failure. These voids permitted internal electrical discharge, leading to the conductor becoming live and low-hanging. At the time, no automated detection system for low-hanging lines was in place, and the fault went unreported by the public until after Harry’s death.
After the findings, the Electricity North West Limited (ENWL) made changes, including halting the use of porcelain insulators, implementing patrols within 48 hours of known phase-to-phase faults, reviewing pole placement near rights-of-way, and installing new Linesight technology to detect faults and low lines across 77% of its network.
In her report, the coroner expressed concerns about risks of future deaths related to similar insulator failures and low-hanging cables. She highlighted that porcelain insulators with voids remain widely used in the electricity industry and urged the Electricity Networks Association (ENA) to take action as an industry representative.
The ENA has been given until 13th February 2026 to respond to the report, outlining any actions or planned measures to address the identified risks.
Harry’s mother and family were involved throughout the investigation and inquest proceedings, referring to him as Harry throughout the process.
The coroner concluded, "While the failure mode was rare and complex, there is a risk of future deaths, albeit a low one. This presents an opportunity for guidance to be given on risk assessment and further risk-reducing measures."
Copies of the report have been sent to the Chief Coroner, ENWL, OFGEM, the Health and Safety Executive, and other distribution network operators.