Electrical chaos torments family

At his wit's end: Casino resident Kevin Randall at the door of one of his daughters’ rooms, where an electric shock-like phenomenon is tormenting them at night.

Jacklyn Wagner

SINCE 2006, Kevin Randall’s family has been tormented by strange electrical incid-ents in his Casino home that have frightened him and his daughters and left them with unexplained burns and acute cramps.

After four years, the dedicated father of four is at his wit’s end trying to solve the mystery that has also caused household electrical chaos.

Malfunctioning television sets and computers, backward spinning washing machines and short-circuiting stove elements are just a part of the mystery that started suddenly in November 2006 after five previously peaceful years in the house.

“I just don’t know what to do,” Mr Randall said.

“My daughters look to me for answers and I have none.

“I’ve had electricians look over the house and they haven’t found any faults, and the rental company replaced the washing machine three times in one week.

“My landlord, the Buyinbin Aboriginal Housing Co-operative, has been helpful, but they don’t know what to do either.

“My youngest daughter sometimes wakes up screaming from cramps in her stomach and legs, and I know what cramps are like from my footy days.

“The girls often complain of nausea when they walk in the house, and other times say they feel like their head is in a vice.”

Mr Randall said he had considered moving out, but that housing options in Casino were limited.

“We had been looking for a house for years and when this one finally came along we jumped at it – we were very happy for the first five years,” he said.

“It’s happening all the time now. Sometimes you can hear a buzzing sound in the ceiling, and other times there’s this loud banging on the roof which sometimes shakes the house.

“I’ve even called the police, but they weren’t able help either.”

Mr Randall has received burn-like marks on his stomach and legs and has woken up with body spasms.

“My neck jerks back and I wake up in this involuntary spasm,” he said.

“I really want to sort this out for my daughters’ sake – that’s why I called the paper, maybe someone can explain it.

“It is changing the girls’ personalities and affecting their schoolwork.

“I have to stay up late just to make sure they all get to sleep.”