JEFFERSON—A Bunker Hill Road man apparently escaped serious injury Friday when he grabbed an electrical line while falling from a deck.

Jefferson Fire Chief Walter Morris said the 23-year-old, whom Morris could not identify, was taken by Central Lincoln County Ambulance to Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta with what appeared to be non life-threatening injuries. The victim, who briefly lost consciousness after falling about 16 feet off the deck, was alert and talking when firefighters arrived.

Morris said firefighters were called about 7:30 p.m., to a single-family home at 1611 Bunker Hill Road, for a report of a man who had fallen and a downed power line.

“When I got there I found it was a house service line that was down,” Morris said. “The lights were on in the house so I knew the line was still charged.”

Morris directed arriving fire trucks away from the line and used his own vehicle as shield from anyone approaching. A group of people from the house, including the victim, met Morris in the yard.

The victim, who rents the single-story house, told Morris he and his friends were out on the deck, which hangs out over a slope. Morris estimated the deck is about 16 feet off the ground.

“He said he was standing on the railing of the deck…and lost his footing,” Morris said. “He grabbed the house service line to break his fall.”

The service line pulled away from the house and the man fell to the ground.

The victim at first refused medical treatment but after coaxing from Morris agreed to go to the hospital.

Firefighters checked the house with a thermal imaging camera to make sure the downed line had not led to a hot spot that could spark a fire. Central Maine Power crews arrived quickly and shut off power to the house. The electricity will not be restored until an electrician can repair the service line, Morris said.
 

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