A Maryland man died earlier this week after he was electrocuted while trying to rescue his dog during a thunderstorm, officials said Tuesday.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department said it received a number of calls about downed trees and power lines in the area of Maryland and Disney avenues in Severn around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
After being dispatched to the scene, crews said they found the downed lines were arcing dangerously and “located one adult male suffering from injuries from electrocution.” The lines had been ripped down by falling trees.
The man, who was 31 but whose identity has not been released, was transported to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in critical condition but died soon after.
Anne Arundel County firefighter Steven Bishop said the man was trying to rescue his dog after a power line fell and electrified a metal fence on the property, according to local NBC affiliate WBAL.
“There was a dog next to that fence who sadly got electrocuted,” Bishop told the station. “From that electrocution, the dog’s owner heard and came running out to try and save the dog and sadly got electrocuted as well.”
“It’s just a sad thing, him and his dog,” neighbor Jeff Wunder told WBAL. “It’s just a sad day.”
Severn is located roughly 15 miles south of Baltimore.
