Police arrive at the scene where a contractor was electrocuted in Wellesley, Mass.Photo:Wellesley Police Department
Wellesley Police Department
A man was electrocuted one day before Thanksgiving while hanging up holiday lights on an outdoor tree.
Police said that the incident occurred around 10 a.m. local time when “the pole being used came into close proximity, or contact with, a primary electrical line on a utility pole.”
Officials said the person who reported the incident told dispatchers that the victim was “unconscious and appeared to be having a seizure and had stopped breathing.” The 911 caller was directed to perform CPR until the officers arrived on scene.
When three police officers arrived at the scene, they reported that the victim “appeared to be in sudden cardiac arrest.” The officers took over the CPR and cleared the area to determine the cause of the electrocution.
According to the press release, “Wellesley first responders delivered multiple shocks from the AED in between providing CPR and breathing for the victim.”
The scene of the incident in Wellesley, Mass., on Nov. 27, 2024.Wellesley Police Department
The federal agency Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently investigating the incident along with Wellesley Municipal Light Plant and police.
“The Wellesley Police, Fire, and WMLP Department extend our thoughts and prayers to the victim and his family during this tragic incident,” the police department said in a statement.
Wellesley Police told PEOPLE on Thursday, Nov. 28, that there are no new updates at this time.
In a recent interview with the outlet, police officer Tim Gover said the victim will “be pretty lucky if he survives” due to the severity of the electrocution, adding, “He took a big hit.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The victim was reportedly walking around the pine tree with the pole during the incident.
“The pole he was using was about 34 feet long, and it came in either close proximity or actually touched a primary line that was only a few feet from the tree,” said Gover. “And he got zapped from that.”
source: people.com
