An electrician is suing Channel Nine after he was allegedly electrocuted while working on renovation show The Block.
Melbourne tradie Leigh Roberts claims he was shocked in March 2021 while working on house three of that year’s season of the hit television show.
The house Roberts was working on in Hampton, in Melbourne’s south-east, was renovated by Tanya and Vito Guccione, who are not named in the court documents and are not accused of any wrongdoing.
Mr Roberts claims he suffered injury, loss and damage as a result of a breach of duty by Nine and is seeking damages and costs, according to a claim filed on Wednesday in the County Court of Victoria, the Herald Sun reported.
A trader is suing Channel Nine after he was allegedly electrocuted while working on renovation show The Block. Pictured are Block hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft
His injuries from the incident included stress, anxiety and depression, Mr Roberts, who is represented by Carbone Lawyers, said in the claim.
Mr Roberts’ lawyer, Tony Carbone, said his client had been working in the basement of the house and was electrocuted while trying to connect a cable.
The tradie was taken to hospital but was released before returning to work the next day.
Mr Roberts suffered palpitations two days later and had to return to hospital, his lawyer claimed.
‘Since then he has not been able to work properly. It’s as if he has undergone a change in his physiology. His friends tell him he’s not the same person,” Carbone said.
The house Roberts worked on was renovated by Tanya and Vito Guccione (pictured), who are not named in the court documents and are not accused of any wrongdoing
“From my perspective, this should not happen on any job site, let alone on a high-profile TV show like The Block.”
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
Scott Cam and Shelley Craft once again present a new season of The Block – the 20th – which is in production in a luxury gated community on Phillip Island, off the coast of Victoria.
Last week, Cam, 61, was spotted with the five teams of the upcoming series as he shot a promo video on a picturesque beach on the island.