PANAMA CITY— One man’s heart stopped and another suffered electrical burns after a piece of metal scaffolding made contact with power lines at a church construction site Tuesday morning, according to officials.
Just before 8 a.m., as construction crews at First Baptist Church, 640 Grace Ave., lowered a piece of scaffolding, it touched power lines, delivering an electric shock to William N. Nunnery, 49, and Timothy K. Swearingen, 45.
Emergency services were dispatched and both were taken to the emergency room shortly after police and fire performed an emergency tandem rescue, Battalion Chief Scott Flitcraft said. They were transferred to an Augusta, Ga. burn center from Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart Health System. Their injuries are considered life threatening, police said.
“One was in cardiac arrest, but we got a heart rate back on him and the other received burns to his hands and feet,” Flitcraft said. “When we have one patient who we are trying to breathe for and another we are lowering down, there are dangers … but it turned out as good as it could.”
Flitcraft said the man with electrical burns was awake and responsive as they were taken to a local hospital, but the man who went into cardiac arrest was unconscious.
A First Baptist Church business administrator was inside the church when the power went out.
“We were fortunate to have a great response from EMS, a terrific response from police,” said Mark McQueen, adding that the church’s main concern is the well being of the employees.
Panama City Police officials added their investigation indicated the incident was a workplace accident. Anyone with information can call Detective S. Johnson at 850-872-7203.
An earlier version of this story is posted below:
PANAMA CITY — One man’s heart stopped and another suffered electrical burns after a piece of metal scaffolding made contact with power lines at a local church Tuesday morning, according to officials.
Just before 8 a.m., emergency services were dispatched to a construction site at First Baptist Church, 640 Grace Ave. As construction crews lowered a piece of scaffolding, it made contact with power lines, shocking the two men.
Both were taken to the emergency room shortly after police and fire performed a emergency tandem rescue, Battalion Chief Scott Flitcraft said.
“One was in cardiac arrest but we got a heart rate back on him and the other received burns to his hands and feet,” Flitcraft said. “When we have one patient who we are trying to breathe for and another we are lowering down there are dangers … but it turned out as good as it could.”
Flitcraft said the man with electrical burns was awake and responsive as they were taken to a local hospital, but the man who went into cardiac arrest was unconscious.
Mark McQueen,
“We were fortunate to have a great response from
Panama City Police said both men were stabilized at a local hospital and have been transported to a burn center in Georgia. Officials added that their investigation indicated the incident was a workplace accident.