September 9, 2012

Man grabs electrical line to break fall

The Jefferson resident escapes serious injury after tumbling about 16 feet from a deck's railing.

By CRAIG CROSBY Kennebec Journal

JEFFERSON - A Bunker Hill Road man escaped serious injury Friday when he grabbed an electrical line while falling from a deck.

Jefferson Fire Chief Walter Morris said the 23-year-old, whom Morris could not identify, was taken by Central Lincoln County Ambulance to Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.

The victim, who briefly lost consciousness after falling about 16 feet off the deck, was alert and talking when firefighters arrived.

Morris said firefighters were called about 7:30 p.m. to a single-family home at 1611 Bunker Hill Road in response to a report that a man had fallen and that a power line was down.

"When I got there, I found it was a house service line that was down," Morris said. "The lights were on in the house, so I knew the line was still charged."

Morris directed arriving firetrucks away from the line and used his own vehicle as a shield from anyone approaching.

A group of people from the house, including the victim, met Morris in the yard.

The victim, who rents the single-story house, told Morris he and his friends were out on the deck, which hangs out over a slope. Morris estimated the deck is about 16 feet off the ground.

Morris said the man told him he was standing on the railing of the deck and lost his footing. "He grabbed the house service line to break his fall," Morris said.

The service line pulled away from the house and the man fell to the ground.

The victim at first refused medical treatment but after gentle coaxing from Morris agreed to go to the hospital.

Firefighters checked the house with a thermal imaging camera to make sure the downed line had not caused a hot spot that could spark a fire.

Central Maine Power crews arrived quickly and shut off power to the house. The electricity will not be restored until an electrician can repair the service line, Morris said.

Kennebec Journal Staff Writer Craig Crosby can be contacted at 621-5642 or at:

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

 

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