The man was injured Thursday while connecting wiring at the city’s little league baseball field when he touched a live line, Odem-Edroy ISD officials said.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — An electrical contractor remains in the ICU Friday after suffering a severe electric shock while working on lighting at the Odem Little League Baseball Field, according to school district officials and first responders.
The man was injured Thursday while connecting wiring at the field when he touched a live line, Odem-Edroy ISD officials said. The emergency prompted an immediate response from nurses and staff with the school district next door, and deputies from the San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office, who worked together to get a pulse before EMS arrived.
“So see the light poles? Those are all new,” Odem-Edroy ISD Superintendent Yolanda Carr said. “They had dug a trench here and were connecting the line to the breaker box. Unfortunately, it was live when the gentleman touched it and was electrocuted.”
Carr said staff training quickly kicked into gear the moment it was needed.
“We train, but you know, we’re practicing CPR on a dummy, a plastic dummy. And then to watch our nurse who trains us be able to get in there and assist the law enforcement and also our other nurses,” Carr said.
The incident also hit close to home with those in the local electrical community. Trey Armijo, who has worked as an electrician for more than 20 years, said the news spread quickly.
“Praying for him, you know, all of the electrical field. All the contractors are talking to a lot of contractors around town, and everyone’s talking about it because it’s a very serious situation,” Armijo said. “Being an electrician, we go to work every day and you don’t really realize that something like this can happen to you.”
Odem-Edroy ISD Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Pfluger praised the teamwork at the scene, and highlighted the quick action of one staff member in particular.
“Nurse Lisa Perez, she was the first one to get there with her AED. She quickly got there, got that hooked up, and they were able to use that AED,” Pfluger said. “We were able to get a pulse, but by the time he was put into a HALO flight, they were able to get a pulse, he was breathing on his own and they felt like he was stabilized enough for the helicopter ride.”
Pfluger said the response underscored the importance of AED training and having equipment accessible during emergencies.
Officials with Odem-Edroy ISD called the incident a clear example of how the tight-knit community comes together when needed most, and said they are grateful that trained staff were nearby to act within minutes.