A man who was accidentally electrocuted after working on power lines in Okotoks last month has been released from hospital.

“It is very good news. The individual was released from the hospital after a few days and is expected to recover,” said Robyn Crawford, FortisAlberta spokesperson. “We’re all very relieved. Certainly, contact with an electrical power line is extremely dangerous and we’re very fortunate.”

The 24-year-old’s co-workers were credited with helping save his life after immediately responding and performing CPR.

Upon arriving on scene, Okotoks firefighters and paramedics used a defibrillator to start the victim’s heart pumping again. The man was in critical condition when emergency personnel arrived, requiring advanced life support and he was flown to Foothills Hospital in Calgary by STARS Air Ambulance.

“We’re certainly glad for the responders who helped him,” said Crawford.

She would not provide the individual’s name or any further information about him. Crawford said he was working for an independent contractor hired to work on the power lines in the area. The work was being done to replace aging power lines that were first installed in the 1970s.

Just before 10 a.m. on Nov. 23, the man was rolling up a power line that had been disconnected from power poles along Centre Avenue near Sandstone Lodge. It was not charged at the time. He tugged on the line and it flipped up making contact with live wires above.

Crawford said the company is investigating the incident to prevent similar accidents in the future.

She said the incident underscores the importance of being safe around electricity and the emergency training anyone working around power lines receives.

dpatterson@okotoks.greatwest.ca

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