A party on a deck in Jefferson, Sept. 7, took an unexpected turn at approximately 7 p.m., when a 23-year-old man decided to climb up on a railing, approximately 16 feet from the ground below.
Jefferson Fire Chief Walter Morris said the incident at 1611 Bunker Hill Rd. took place while the man, who rents the home there, was entertaining friends. Morris said the man gave no reason for climbing onto the railing.
“There had been drinking that afternoon,” Morris said. “He lost his balance and reached out to grab onto something to keep from falling.”
That turned out to be the electrical line providing power to the house.
“He fell and pulled the service line off the side of the house,” Morris said. He said witnesses assumed the man received an electric shock, because they heard him yell when he grabbed the power line. They said he remained unconscious for a short time.
“I arrived on the scene first,” Morris said. “Power was still on in the house so I knew the line was alive.” He blocked off the active wire with his vehicle so that Central Lincoln County Ambulance personnel could safely assist the fallen man.
“Initially, he refused treatment,” Morris said. “Ultimately, we convinced him that it would be in his best interest to be checked out.” The man was transported to Miles Memorial Hospital.
Jefferson firefighters went through the house to see if any inside wires had sparked or started a fire. They checked walls and the interior with a thermal imaging camera. Central Maine Power Company personnel disconnected the power at the pole and secured the area.
The identity of the individual was not available by press time.
