A MAN is in hospital with severe burns after the cable he was cutting through exploded.

Police say it is understood the 42-year-old man, from Fenby Avenue, in Darlington, was cutting through a cable in an NEDL electrical compound when it exploded, sending 11,000 volts through his body.

He was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital after the incident, which happened at about 2.45am this morning (October 18), but has since been transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), in Newcastle, where he is in a stable condition in the burns unit.

Detective Sergeant Sean Jackson, of Darlington police, said: “He has got considerable burns to his body and the potential loss of some fingers.

“I hope this shows people how serious, if not fatal, cutting through cable can be.”

A 39-year-old Darlington man has been arrested in connection with the incident.