Massachusetts man suffers life-threatening injuries while attempting to install Christmas lights

An installation of Christmas lights in Massachusetts went tragically wrong this week.

According to police, on Wednesday, at approximately 10:00 a.m. the Wellesley Police Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a man had possibly been electrocuted on Falmouth Circle in Wellesley.

The victim, a contractor hired by a resident, was installing lights on a large tree using a pole. It appears that the pole being used came into close proximity, or contact with, a primary electrical line on a utility pole. The victim appears to have then received a life-threatening electrical shock.

The 911 caller indicated that the man was unconscious and appeared to be having a seizure and had stopped breathing. Wellesley Police Dispatcher Deborah Tellini provided the caller with CPR instructions. The caller began performing CPR until officers arrived on scene a few moments later. Wellesley Police Dispatcher Amanda Cummings coordinated a multi-faceted emergency response to the scene that included the Wellesley Fire Department, Wellesley Police Department, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, as well as a mutual aid paramedic ambulance from the Needham Fire Department.

Wellesley Police Officers Tim Gover, Mike Pino, and Scott Whittemore were the first emergency responders to arrive on scene and observed that the victim appeared to be in sudden cardiac arrest. A co-worker of the victim was performing chest compressions as instructed by Wellesley Police Dispatchers. Wellesley Police Officers took over CPR and began to clear the area, as the actual cause of the electrocution was unknown at the time.

Wellesley Fire Department Engine 2 arrived with Lieutenant Don Toli, as well as Firefighters Corey Ronan and Ivan Cabassa, along with Deputy Fire Chief Mike Gigante. Wellesley Firefighters and Police then set up the Automatic External Defibrillator while continuing to provide CPR. Wellesley first responders delivered multiple shocks from the AED in between providing CPR and breathing for the victim.

The last shock administered to the victim by the AED appeared to revive him as he regained a pulse. A paramedic ambulance from Needham Fire arrived on scene and began rendering advanced life support care.

The victim was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital by Needham Fire. The victim was initially treated at Newton Wellesley Hospital, and then transferred to the Massachusetts General Hospital.

The Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, including WMLP Director David Wood, arrived on scene to inspect and ensure the area was safe.

Wellesley Police Detectives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation worked with the WMLP experts to investigate and reconstruct the accident. WMLP conducted a thorough safety check of the utility pole as well. WMLP reported that there was no danger to the public. Area security cameras were reviewed, and witnesses were interviewed by police officers and detectives as well to determine the exact cause of the electrocution.

Preliminarily, the investigation has revealed that the large pole the male victim was utilizing to string the holiday lights came into close proximity, or actual contact with, a primary electrical line on the top of the utility pole. The victim was then electrocuted when this contact was made.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was contacted per departmental policy to investigate. OSHA investigators responded to the scene and are working with the WMLP and Wellesley Police.

The incident is currently under investigation.