Kitakyushu - A teenage male was rushed to a hospital after suffering an electric shock while putting away a motorized basketball hoop at a gymnasium in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, in an accident believed to have been caused by an incompatible extension cord, according to a report on October 27th.
The accident occurred as the teenager was attempting to store a movable basketball hoop equipped with an electric motor. Investigators believe he came into contact with an exposed metal component of the electrical connection after using an extension cord that was incompatible with the equipment's power plug.
The basketball hoop was fitted with a three-prong plug, which includes a grounding pin designed to prevent electric shocks. However, the extension cord provided by the facility had only two slots, the type commonly used for household electrical appliances.
Despite the mismatch, the teenager attempted to operate the equipment without being able to establish a secure connection. Part of the metal plug remained exposed, and he is believed to have touched the conductive surface, resulting in an electric shock.
The teenager was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment and was admitted for four to five days of medical examinations and observation.
The facility's management said it would replace the incompatible extension cord with an appropriate model and strengthen safety procedures to prevent similar accidents.
The incident has raised concerns about electrical safety at sports facilities, particularly when motorized equipment requiring grounded power connections is used with extension cords that do not meet the equipment's specifications.
Source: FNN
