GIUD Lineworker Stable Following Electrocution

Grand Island, Neb. — A Grand Island Utilities lineworker is alive and stable thanks to the immediate response of his fellow lineworkers.

Shortly after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, a GIUD lineworker was electrocuted while on a power pole in the 3900 block of Mary Lane. The lineworker was unconscious, not breathing and suffering from cardiac arrest.

That’s when his fellow GIUD lineworkers jumped into action. They conducted a pole rescue, began CPR and applied an AED. The efforts of the GIUD team helped restore the lineworker’s heartbeat moments before first responders arrived on scene.

The Grand Island Fire Department arrived on scene just minutes following the 9-1-1 call to find the lineworker stable and breathing. No life-saving measures were needed due to the immediate response of the GIUD team on scene, but GIFD did initiate life-stabilizing measures while en route to the Grand Island Regional Medical Center.

“The reason the outcome was as good as it was, is because our system worked as expected from the dispatchers to the lineworkers advanced training to the fire department’s rapid response and the advanced care provided by Grand Island Regional,” Chief Cory Schmidt said. “The real heroes here are those lineworkers who did an amazing job in such an emotional situation.”

Per family request, the name of the lineworker is not being released at this time.