A MAN installing Christmas lights was electrocuted to death in a freak accident that left him hanging upside down from a tree for an hour.
Antonio Pascual Mateo, 24, was on the roof of a home in San Diego when the incident occurred on November 21. He was trying to install Christmas lights when he threw them over a live high-voltage power line, causing an electrocution.
The Escondido Fire Department responded to the scene and found Mateo suspended in the air via a waist harness. He was left dangling from the tree for an hour as firefighters waited for San Diego Gas & Electric crews to shut off the power in the area before rescuing him.
Mateo was eventually rushed to Palomar Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. A medical examiner ruled his death an accident.
The incident highlights the importance of taking safety precautions when installing Christmas lights. Experts warn against hanging lights while plugged into an electrical outlet, and instead recommend taking ones time and following proper safety guidelines.
In the past year, there have been an average of 160 Christmas decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. To avoid such incidents, the commission recommends ensuring that live Christmas trees have plenty of water, never leaving candles unattended, and never overloading electrical outlets.
Mateo’s family organized a GoFundMe to raise funds for his funeral and burial, and as of Wednesday, they have raised about $13,500 of their $20,000 goal.