Yesterday was a trip. The house next door to the house I'm working on is also being renovated. Yesterday they were doing the roof. As they threw shingles off the roof into the dumpster, a few got caught on the power line that is ridiculously close to the house. One guy, 20 year old who is just learning the trade, stood at the peak of the roof, leaned over, and tried to pull a shingle off the wire. I was inside the house next door watching, and he lit up like a flashbulb. He went totally limp, and fell. Off the roof. Probably 25 feet. Landed in a Yew bush inches from a dumpster. He landed face down and was completely non-responsive. I called 911 and ambulance, paramedics, fire department, and power company were all there within four minutes. We had pulled him out of the bush and laid him on his side. His eyes were open and he was breathing, but his heart rate was over 200, and he was spitting/coughing up blood. He was trying to scream in pain, but couldn't make his voice work.
I've gotta be honest, I've seen accidents plenty of times, but this one hit me hard. 20 year old guy got zapped, fell off a roof, and who knows what was wrong with him. Seeing him try to scream and writhing in pain. Damn. Messed me up worrying for this dude.
This morning we got word. He was helicoptered to a large burn centre in our state about 3 hours away. They kept him in a medical coma until this morning, and then weaned him off it. He slowly woke up, and as soon as he was able to speak he said, "I want to go home." They didn't let him because he has third degree burns across the front and back of his torso, and down both arms. But there appear to be no long term mental repercussions, and despite falling 25 feet he didn't have a single broken bone. Unfreakingbelievable.
So I'm rustled. And relieved.
