Man nearly electrocuted while hanging Christmas lights on tree

A man was nearly electrocuted to death after being hired to hang Christmas lights on a large tree in Massachusetts, police said.

The incident occurred Wednesday around 10 a.m. when the Wellesley Police Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a man may have been electrocuted on Falmouth Circle in Wellesley, according to a statement from the Wellesley Police Department.

“The victim, a contractor hired by a resident, was installing holiday lights on a large tree using a pole,” authorities said. “It appears that the pole that was used came in close proximity to or contact with a primary electrical wire on a utility pole. The victim appears to have received a life-threatening electric shock.”

The man who received the electric shock immediately fell unconscious, appeared to have a seizure and stopped breathing, police said.

The Wellesley Police Dispatcher subsequently gave the caller CPR instructions and the caller administered CPR until officers arrived on scene moments later.

“Wellesley Police Officers Tim Gover, Mike Pino and Scott Whittemore were the first responders to arrive on the scene and observed the victim appear to be in sudden cardiac arrest,” police said. “A colleague of the victim performed chest compressions as directed by Wellesley Police Dispatchers. Wellesley Police Officers took over CPR and began clearing the area as the actual cause of electrocution was unknown at that time.”

Emergency personnel then used a defibrillator on the victim while continuing to provide CPR. Several shocks were given to the man until he was revived and regained his pulse, police said.

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

Wellesley Police Detectives conducted an investigation and determined that the large pole that the man used to turn on the holiday lights came in close proximity to, or actually made contact with, a primary electrical wire on top of the utility pole, and he was electrocuted when he got in touch. .

“The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was contacted per department policy to investigate,” police said. “OSHA investigators responded to the scene and are working with WMLP and Wellesley Police. The Wellesley Police, Fire and WMLP departments send our thoughts and prayers to the victim and his family during this tragic incident.”

The incident is currently under investigation and no further information is available at this time.