A man was left fighting for his life after getting a “life-threatening electrical shock” while setting up Christmas lights.
The harrowing event unfolded on Wednesday morning in Wellesley, Massachusetts, when the man, a contractor hired by a homeowner, was adorning a large tree with festive lights using a pole.
Wellesley Police explained: “It appears that the pole being used came into close proximity, or contact with, a primary electrical line on a utility pole,” leading to the severe electric shock suffered by the victim.
“The 911 caller indicated that the male party was unconscious and appeared to be having a seizure and had stopped breathing,” added the police.
John Kerry warns US is ‘on the brink’ of declaring a ‘climate emergency’
Home Alone house ‘under police guard’ as fans flock to iconic movie location
‘This boxed wine hack kept my wine fresher longer and it’s on sale during Amazon’s Black Friday week’
The emergency caller immediately began CPR on the stricken individual until the arrival of first responders, who found him in what seemed like sudden cardiac arrest.
Police recounted: “Wellesley first responders delivered multiple shocks from the AED in between providing CPR and breathing for the victim,” which ultimately resulted in the man regaining a pulse after the final shock.
Subsequently, the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
“It was a power wash company, some young guys who were just trying to make some extra money for the holidays, hang up some Christmas lights around a pretty tall evergreen tree,” Wellesley Police Officer Michael Pino explained to WHDH. “Happened to be a little too close to the primary wire on the telephone pole, and that’s where we believe the electricity came down the metal pole.”
The Wellesley Municipal Light Plant conducted a review of the area and confirmed there was no danger to the public. “The Wellesley Police, Fire, and Wellesley Municipal Light Plant Department extend our thoughts and prayers to the victim and his family during this tragic incident,” the police added.
DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
This comes after an actor sadly died after suffering a medical emergency while performing onstage. The 60-year-old Julien Arnold was performing onstage at the Citadel Theater in Edmonton, Canada, when the emergency occurred on November 24. He was playing the roles of Marley, Mr. Fezziwig and Banjo during a production of A Christmas Carol.
Emergency responders arrived at the theater at around 8.28pm. They tried multiple resuscitation attempts, but Julien sadly died at the venue. His cause of death is yet to be revealed.
Citadel Theater shared an emotional tribute to Julien following his death. “It is with heavy hearts we share the news of the sudden passing of Julien Arnold, a beloved actor and dear friend of the Citadel Theatre. A cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community, Julien was a gifted performer whose charisma and talent graced our stage in countless productions, including A Christmas Carol,” they wrote on Instagram.
The theater continued, “Juliens passing is a profound loss to his family, friends, fellow Carol company members, Citadel staff, and the Edmonton community he loved so dearly. His presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions – and big hugs – will be deeply missed.”
Citadel Theater promised to dedicate the remaining performances of A Christmas Carol to the actor’s memory. They concluded, “We kindly ask for respect for his familys privacy during this difficult time. Your love, support, and well wishes are deeply appreciated. A GoFundMe has been created to support his family during this time. If you wish to contribute, please visit the link in our bio.”
