SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — A Westmoreland teenager was yesterday electrocuted while cutting branches from a tree on the premises of St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Savanna-la-Mar yesterday.

The deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Najay Meickle, formerly of a Farm Pen, Llandillo address.

Reports are that Meikle was electrocuted about 9:30 am after a branch he cut fell on high tension wires belonging to Jamaica Public Service (JPS).

Scores of curious onlookers converged outside the church premises and stared at the body which dangled from the tree for hours before it was removed by personnel from the Westmoreland Fire Brigade and JPS with the use of a ladder and a crane truck.

A distraught aunt of the deceased could not contain her grief and had to be supported by other family members.

It is not clear who employed Meickle to cut the branches, as checks with both the church and JPS suggest that he was not assigned by either of the two entities.

The Savanna-la-Mar police are investigating.