POTA operator electrocuted - BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!

[SWAMPER]

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BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

At 8:47am, Erwin Fire Rescue was dispatched to the Chicora Civil War Cemetery on NC Highway 82 for an unconscious person.
Units arrived on scene to find a male victim on the ground his approx 20 foot Ham radio mast under a set of power lines.
Fire and EMS could not access the victim as the power in the immediate area had the possibility of being energized.
Harnett County Sheriffs Deputies, NC Medical Examiner and both South River EMC and River City Construction arrived to assist.
The person was pronounced deceased at the scene.
This is still an active investigation.
Preliminary investigation is the Ham Radio operator was attempting to raise a mast to conduct Ham radio operations (Hobbyist). The mast struck the overhead power lines and electrocuted the person.
Today there is a 13 Colonies Amateur Radio session where Ham operators get on the airwaves and talk to those within the 13 original colonies to receive a certificate when they make contact was each 13.
Also (POTA) Parks on the air, where operators travel with portable equipment to area parks to broadcast and receive transmissions.
https://parksontheair.com

[SWAMPER]

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[Michael M]

I'm not being critical when I say, he broke a fundamental rule. It's a cautionary tale, ending in a tragic loss of life. Thoughts and prayers for his loved ones.

[wd4llq]

Even the pros get it wrong. I remember when channel 12's remote truck ran their hydraulic mast up into the power lines in downtown West Palm Beach. It took out most of downtown. I don't recall for certain if there was loss of life in that one but it did destroy the truck and all the equipment in it.

[Michael M]

Even the pros get it wrong.

Absolutely true. Nicky Hayden was a successful, professional motorcycle road racer, winning the 2006 MotoGP World Championship and the 2002 Daytona 200, along with countless other wins in MotoGP, Superbike, and Supersport, including the 1999 AMA 600 Supersport Championship. In 2017, he was killed while riding a bicycle.

There is a reason we emphasize safety in our club, including our acronym SFL - Safety, Fun, Learning... safety always coming first, then fun, then learning. When I first became interested in general aviation, I was given the saying below and I never forgot it. Although, I don't know where to attribute it. The same could be said for other things, including some of the things we do.

“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.”

There is another saying that is cautionary advice - “Familiarity breeds contempt.”