WXYZ — A man died in Southfield Saturday evening while trimming trees in a backyard on Lexington Parkway near San Quentin Avenue.
Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee said the man came in contact with a high voltage electrical wire while working. He's believed to have died instantly from the shock.
The Southfield Fire Department had to call in a special unit trained on rope rescue, in order to get the man down after the accident.
“We definitely have to make sure that the power is cut before we intervene to try and extricate him," Chief Menifee told 7 Action News.
The man was in a harness, which firefighters had to work around in order to free him.
A family member has confirmed to Action News the identity of the deceased man as Erik Stillwell. A GoFundMe page has been set up to cover funeral costs.
DTE Energy released the following statement:
"We at DTE Energy are deeply saddened to learn that an independent tree trimmer came into contact with one of our power lines while trimming a tree in Southfield and unfortunately passed away. This is a tragic reminder of the importance of safety around power lines. Our thoughts and prayers are with the person’s family and friends."
Some additional wire safety tips:
- If you are doing some maintenance in your own yard - whether wires are in the air or on the ground, stay at least 20 feet away and assume they are live.
- Before beginning any outdoor projects, check your surroundings to avoid potential safety hazards.
- Carry ladders and other tools horizontally to avoid accidental contact with overhead power lines.
