Boy Cheats Dead While Saving Another From Electrocution

Boy Cheats Dead While Saving Another From Electrocution 

Born on January 11, 1994 in Bangoua, West Region of Cameroon, 25 years old Pengang Christophe Dimitri is seemingly Cameroon’s most neglected hero of recent times. It was in the afternoon of Sunday February 3rd 2019 in a quarter in Douala known as “Quatier Non Glacé” that Christophe saved the life of a certain Derio, said to be in his early 40s from electrocution. Derio is an Eneo (the electricity utility company) worker and had mounted the pole that unfortunate day for some maintenance work; little did he know the ill luck that awaited him. In a one on one with Christophe on March 3rd 2019 in Douala, he began by telling me about his early beginnings.

Since childhood, he had always dreamed of becoming a security officer, be it police, soldier or fire fighter. Unfortunately his parents hadn’t the financial means to educate him. Thus, he never even saw the walls of a primary school. However, today, he’s very knowledgeable and full of common sense and when he expresses himself in French, one will think he went through school. In the year 2013, after having saved some money from doing odd jobs, he quitted the village for greener pastures in Douala, Cameroon’s commercial capital.

Christophe carrying down victim on his shoulders

Upon arrival in Douala, he was welcomed with hard life; living on the streets, lacking what to eat, where to sleep, having nothing to do till finally he got connected to a builder that’s today his master. He’s been following him around to provide him assistance at construction sites. Today, from his little earnings, Chistophe has been financing the education of his kid sisters back in the village and even sending some money to his poor mother. He says he wants his younger ones to school plus on his behalf, reason why he wishes they attain the highest level of education they can.

In early February, Christophe did something for which he will forever be remembered. His bravery earned him media attention after he saved a man from electrocution. As the story goes, on that fateful day, he was idling in the quarter when a friend passed and told him that someone has died on an electric pole nearby and has been hanging on it for the past hours. He gave a deaf ear to the breaking news. Minutes later, another friend passed by and told him the very news. This time around he reluctantly decided to go and see for himself what was going on. Upon arrival at the scene, he was quick to notice that the said person was still alive. Below the pole were hundreds of onlookers including police officers and Eneo workers, yet none dared to offer the victim a helping hand. A majority of persons were rather filming and snapping the helpless victim with their phones.

Entrapped electrician dangling from pole

“I don’t know what came over me” he said. “All I recall is that with the courage my master has been instilling in me, I immediately got a ladder, put on a thick dress and speedily mounted the pole and brought down the victim” he added. He went on to narrate how upon successfully bringing down the victim, the police officers that were there immediately drove them to the hospital for medical attention. Unfortunately upon return, they never drove him home or back to the scene of action. He was abandoned along the way where he sat down trembling, probably an effect of the tension he went through to safe Derio until it was a bike rider that passed and gave him a ride home.

Quizzed on why he had to bear such risk to mount the pole and safe the trapped electrician knowing well that it could cost his life, he said “I don’t know what happened. Something pricked me. I speedily mounted the pole using a ladder and untied the belt on his waist.” He continued his narration; “People asked me to drop him. Some even brought in mattresses and placed below the pole saying I should drop him to fall on, that’s he’s dead already else I’ll also be electrocuted. But I told myself NO.” According to his narrative, the victim had suffered from enormous burns and if he was dropped down as some opined, he would’ve died. With all his might, courage and trust in God, Christophe detached the victim’s belt, carried him on his shoulders and safely descended with him. Today he is very happy the victim is alive and has been discharged from hospital. However, he would’ve felt so bad if after saving him, the victim gave up the ghost in the hospital. But if it was God’s will, then so should it have been.

Christophe & myself after interview

Since February 3rd 2019, the day of the incidence till date, Pengang Christophe Dimitri has received no financial or material support for his act of heroism, not even from the government, Eneo or any institution. Awards have been organized yet his heroism has gone unappreciated but for a few media organs that reported his story, that’s all. Despite this neglect, he says he’s not disappointed because he wasn’t doing that for recognition but for humanity and in good faith. It’s his God given talent and he can’t neglect using it because he won’t be appreciated. He’s however hopeful that by the grace of God, one day he will be surprisingly awarded for his act. He added that if today he sees another person in another life threatening situation, with his good heart, he’ll still do his best to safe him/her. And that if in the course he dies, then it’ll be God’s will. After all, this wasn’t the first time he’s done such. Some years back, while in the village, he jumped into a river and saved a drowning boy after it rained heavily. Both were carried away by the current but he successfully swam to the banks for safety.

As word of advice to the public, he pleaded that subsequently, should a human being be in danger, those around must first prioritize saving the person rather than filming and snapping with their phones to later go and sell the images. To him, with such attitudes, Cameroon won’t evolve. Moreover, though not the first to have carried out such an act of heroism, he wishes subsequently, such shouldn’t go unnoticed. Heroes and heroines shouldn’t be neglected. Persons who risk their lives to safe others or carry out acts of bravery should at least be appreciated even if not necessarily financially. Just verbal recognition is motivational, he ended.

Pengang Christophe Dimitri can be reached on +237 675 89 81 31