Pupil sues US council over electric shock

AN AMERICAN high school pupil who suffered such a severe electric shock during a class experiment that his heart stopped beating is suing his teacher, the school district and a city council.

Kyle Dubois and his parents claim that teacher Thomas Kelley did not warn students of the dangers of the electrical demonstration cords in their trades class at a school in Dover, New Hampshire.

On 11 March, Mr Dubois attached an electrical crocodile clamp to one nipple while another student attached another clamp to the other. A third student plugged in the cord. Mr Dubois was critically injured after receiving about three seconds of electricity.

The New Hampshire Union Leader says Mr Dubois's suit contends that he suffered permanent brain damage. The suit also claims that Mr Kelley was "less than 8ft away at the time and saw and heard the students engaging in this activity."

Mr Kelley told police: "I was talking up my fantasy baseball team with one student and the next thing I know there was a commotion," he said.

"I look and I hear an 'ouch'. I look and there's Kyle going to the ground."

Mr Kelley resigned about a month after the incident.