Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Harold William Wray, 45, a married man, residing at South Grafton, was electrocuted when he came into contact with a 6000-volt high tension wire whilst working at the Carr’s Creek sub-station yesterday morning. After receiving the shock, Wray fell 18 feet from the top of a pole to the ground, and was picked up in an unconscious condition.
It is understood that an X-ray examination was made to ascertain the nature of deceased’s injuries, resulting from the fall.
The injured man, who was the principal foreman linesman employed by the Clarence River County Council in this district, was carrying out alterations to the sub-station and was in charge of a gang, when the tragedy occurred.
Wray’s workmates, who saw the accident occur, rendered immediate assistance and a doctor and the ambulance were summoned. Wray was rushed by the ambulance to the Grafton District Hospital, where resuscitation methods were applied.
The Superintendent of the Grafton District Ambulance, Mr. F. M. Noble, appealed to the Yamba Surf Club for members to apply resuscitation to Wray, and Messrs. Carl Schaeffer, J. Noonan and C. Stevens hurried to the hospital and rendered assistance. He was then put in the iron lung, but after 4½ hours’ treatment, life was pronounced extinct, shortly after 2.30 p.m.
Wray had been employed by the County Council for the past eight years and had been a foreman for five years.
He had a miraculous escape from being electrocuted four years ago, whilst working with the late Mr. R. Cogle, who was killed after touching a 33,000-volt high tension wire between Nymboida and South Grafton. Wray also received a shock then, but was able to descend from the pole unaided.
Wray, who was the son of Mr. Henry Wray, and the late Mrs. Wray, of Mary street, Grafton, is survived by a widow and three children.
An inquest will be held.
The funeral will leave Sanders’ Funeral Chapel, Duke street, at 2.15 p.m. to-day, for the Grafton cemetery. - The Daily Examiner, Grafton, issue dated Thursday August 8, 1940.