Man electrocuted to death and left dangling upside down in harness while hanging Christmas lights
A MAN installing Christmas lights was electrocuted to death in a freak accident that left him dangling upside down.
Antonio Pascual Mateo, 24, was left hanging, latched to his harness, from a tree for an hour after he threw lights over a power line, which sparked an electrocution.
Mateo had been working on installing Christmas lights on the roof of a home in San Diego on November 21 when he died in a freak accident.
The Escondido Fire Department responded to the scene and found a “worker suspended in the air via a waist harness.
“It appeared that he had come in contact with some high-power tension lines,” fire officials told Fox affiliate KSWB-TV.
Mateo was left dangling from the tree for an hour as fire officials waited for San Diego Gas & Electric crews to shut off the power in the area before rescuing the man.
First responders rushed Mateo to Palomar Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
A medical examiner ruled Mateo’s death an accident after he electrocuted when he threw lights over a high-voltage power line.
Family members organized a GoFundMe to raise funeral arrangements for Mateo’s body to be returned to Guatemala.
“[Mateo] was a brother, a son, and a uncle,” the post read.
“His name was Antonio Pascual. He had so much to live, only 24 years old.
“He had been working on putting up Christmas lights around the tree. He always took care of his mother and family.
“Sadly he was electrocuted by the power lines, as he was fixing the Christmas lights. He fell down and stayed in the tree, trapped for an hour.
“Rescue team was forced to wait until the power company had to turn off power. To late to save, forever young he will remain.
“Christmas lights forever having a meaning to us, he will remain in our hearts for eternity.”
As of Wednesday, the family has raised about $13,500 of its $20,000 goal.
Jay Hobson, the owner of The Holiday Lighters, warned others never to hang up Christmas lights while plugged into an electrical outlet.
“Organize your stuff. Taking your time is the best,” Hobson told KSWB-TV.
Emelio Linares, a Christlight installer and owner of SD Light Guys, also cautioned to take your time installing lights.
“If you’re ever in doubt when it comes to electrical, take a second, reassess,” he added.
Christmas decorating safety tips
On average, there are about 160 Christmas decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (UPSC).
The UPSC has shared some safety tips you should consider when decorating your home for the holidays:
- Ensure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water, and watch for the “fire resistant” level when buying an artificial tree.
- Never leave candles unattended.
- Place burning candles in sight, away from flammable items.
- Blow out or sniff candles out before leaving a room or home.
- Never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights.
- Never overload electrical outlets, which can spark a fire.