‘People I was joking with minutes ago are all gone’ — says man who escaped electrocution that ‘killed 30’

A man who survived the tragic incident that led to the electrocution of “over 30 people” at a football viewing centre in Calabar, capital of Cross River state, has his stars to thank.

The police later said seven people died at the viewing centre

A high tension cable reportedly fell on the football fans as they were watching a UEFA Europa league quarter-final match between Manchester United and Anderlecht.

Manchester United won the match 3-2 aggregate, with Marcus Rashford netting the winner in the 107th minute.

Speaking with Punch after the encounter, the survivor said a transformer near the viewing centre located in the Iyang-Esu area of Calabar municipal local government area, exploded during the match.

He reportedly said this caused a high-tension cable to drop on the viewing centre.

“It happened during the match between Manchester United and Anderlecht. I heard a deafening bang. I rushed out to see what was happening,” he was quoted as saying.

“When I turned back to go inside the viewing centre, I saw a cable coming down on the centre and this electrocuted the viewers in the hall.

“It was a horrible sight to behold. I wish I didn’t come out to watch the match. Come to think of it, I have DStv at home but I enjoy watching matches at viewing centres. I could have been dead. I can’t believe that the people I was chatting and joking with a few minutes ago are all gone in a most anguishing way. This world is vain.”