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Footballer Electrocuted by Faulty Floodlight
16 Jun
Summary
- A man died after being electrocuted by a faulty floodlight.
- The operating company was fined £60,000 for failing to ensure safety.
- Minor shocks were reported previously, but the light was not made safe.
Albert Xhediku, a 34-year-old man, tragically died on January 17, 2016, after being electrocuted by a faulty floodlight at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth. He had climbed a metal fence to retrieve a football when he touched the damaged and poorly installed light. Parkwood Community Leisure Ltd, the company operating the centre at the time, has been fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £40,000 in additional costs. The company had previously pleaded guilty to failing to ensure public safety.
The court heard that several players had experienced minor electrical shocks from the same light in the months leading up to the incident. Despite a more serious jolt being reported in December 2015, the light was only inspected and not made safe, which district judge David Robinson stated was a failure by numerous individuals to do their jobs. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted a long and complex investigation before bringing the charge in 2025.
Xhediku's sister, Suela, delivered an emotional statement describing her brother's kindness and bravery, highlighting the profound grief of her parents in Albania. The HSE stated the case serves as a stark reminder for effective risk management of ageing infrastructure.
