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15-year-old boy who died after being electrocuted while climbing near live power lines leaves his father and three siblings devastated just a few years after losing his mother
- Teenager tragically dies after being electrocuted
- He leaves three brothers and a father.
- Tributes for the boy have poured online
Family and friends of a teenager who died after being electrocuted by live power lines shared their agony following the devastating loss.
Brandon Leach, 15, was climbing and swinging near the Aurizon train bridge, which spans Auckland Creek in the Queensland city of Gladstone, on Thursday when he accidentally touched one of the live wires.
It is understood that the power pole to which the cable was attached exploded, causing Brandon to plummet 10m into the creek below.
His heartbroken family has begun paying tribute to Brandon, who leaves behind his father Rob and three brothers.
His grandmother, Audra Leach, revealed that Brandon’s death was not the first tragedy to hit the family.
15-year-old Brandon (pictured) tragically died after being electrocuted by live power lines in Gladstone last Thursday.
“Rob’s children suffered heavy losses in the past when their loving mother Jaymie succumbed to cancer a few years ago,” she wrote on Facebook in a GoFundMe appeal.
“We are all understandably devastated, and we will be here in Gladstone for as long as it takes.
“We expect a long process and both Steve and I are out of work indefinitely.”
Mrs Leach and her husband Stephen established a GoFundMe for the family to help support the family.
“We unexpectedly lost our grandson Brandon on Thursday in a tragic electrocution in Gladstone,” Stephen Leach wrote on GoFundMe.
‘[We] they are raising money to support our Robert and his 3 other children in this extremely difficult time.
“We would really be grateful for any amount you could give to help with this devastation and help support them all.”
Ms Leach said the family “doesn’t usually ask for a lot”.
“However, this time we are reaching out to all of our friends and loved ones to go deeper and if they can donate a small amount to help Rob,” he wrote.
Since then, tributes to Brandon and his family have surfaced online.
‘Brandon was a great guy to work with, he will be sadly missed by many. My condolences to his family and other friends,” wrote a GoFundMe contributor.
What a tragedy. This is the second teenager I know of in Gladstone to have lost his life in this way,” another read.
‘My condolences to Brandon’s family and friends. Please take care of each other during this difficult time. He will always be with you in his hearts.’
The tragedy took place near the Aurizon train bridge, which spans Auckland Creek in the Queensland city of Gladstone.
Gladstone locals also took to social media to express their shock and extend their condolences to the family.
‘What a tragic accident,’ said one.
‘I can’t imagine how difficult this is to process. Support and love each other.
Gladstone Regional Mayor Matt Burnett was deeply shaken by last week’s tragedy.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s terrible news,” he said.
‘Our hearts go out to family and friends. I have three children, I can’t imagine what the family is going through.
Aurizon is Australia’s largest freight rail operator, transporting more than 250 million tonnes of commodities across the country each year.
The company also owns and operates one of the world’s largest coal rail networks, linking around 50 mines to three major ports in Queensland.