Before reading on, know the following is a very real and traumatic life event that could leave you with troubling thoughts. Please read at your discretion. I share this with those who need or want to know what happened to process themselves.

If you choose to read on, keep in mind this is no place to ask why or what if. Those questions are not to be answered in this life. Terrible things happen, that’s part of life and no one is above that. We are only meant to learn and endure each challenge one step at a time.

“It is what it is.”

— Michael Theodorus Harzing

Monday, September 5th, 2022.

It was the golden hours before sunset when I decided to take some shots with my drone. After some time, including a battery change, my memory card ran out just as Mike called that dinner would be ready shortly. I was in the middle of a closing shot and raced around to plug in a new memory card and finish out my last shots.

The drone had been flown hundreds of times, in and out through trees, with no issues. That day was straightforward, only flying close to home and around the shop for specific shots. As I was landing the drone, while filming the sunset flashing reds as it moved down, the next thing on the screen was it stuck in a tree. Not being able to figure out which tree it was even in, Mike and our neighbor/friend/co-worker also named Mike came down to see what I was looking at. We were looking up in trees nowhere near where it ended up and eventually had to walk around until we saw one of us on the screen. That’s when we all noted how complicated this would be since it was above the hydro lines, running from the highway to the property’s transformer supplying power to a commercial repair shop +.

While the two Mikes together discussed options, I did my best to offer support in the background without being in the way. They grabbed the 20-foot extension ladder and brought it to the tall poplar tree it was tangled in. If I remember correctly, both took turns climbing the ladder to assess up close before discussing possible options. The sun had set, and the bugs were starting to bite more frequently. After confirming there would be no rain, we called it a night to think of options and try the following afternoon.

That evening, the last text I sent Mike was this article “https://travelbydrone.com/how-to-get-a-drone-out-of-a-tree/ “

We were sitting together when I only sent him this link, while discussing the other article it references…. “https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6800655/Georgia-man-electrocuted-trying-retrieve-drone-tree.html”

Some more conversations and encounters referenced hydro lines leading up. You don’t think much about them at the time.

September 6, 2022

Mike woke up early and walked over to work with the cats. Returning a few hours later to have breakfast and ensure I was up, again cats following him. Something felt off that morning. That day Mike gave me a big long hug and support to tackle the day.

During lunch at the house, he let me know his plans to use an extension pole from an old roof shovel. In the hours that followed I tried to think of a way to climb up the tree further instead and shake it down. Even asked a few people how they felt about heights and trees with no success.

After work, Mike went to the grocery store while I was baking up a storm in the kitchen. Needing to use up some buttermilk, I was testing out Binets, Scones, and Biscuits. He returned with pork shops for dinner and rainbow sorbet ice cream. He said he got it, remembering I said how much I loved rainbow ice cream growing up and hadn’t had it in forever. To which I had to point out the sorbet wasn’t exactly the same ice cream. He followed up with that he had also gotten it because it was gluten and dairy-free for me, as he knows my stomach was sensitive to both at night. Ended on that I was sure it would be our new favourite.

Once the groceries were put away, Mike went outside to putter and prepare to retackle the drone. I stopped myself from putting a batch in the oven, thinking something could hold us up or distract me from being back in time. Then I joined Mike outside by the tree to help set up the extension ladder, which with the rope-pulling system is not a quick job. We chatted and muttered through for about 10 minutes before it was finally up. I gave one last try at asking him to at least let me climb to the top of the ladder to see if I could climb it. He refused and insisted I stay on the ground.

As he ascended the ladder, I grasped tightly full of anxiety. What if I don’t hold the ladder steady enough? What if he falls? All while the bugs ragged around. As long as I have at least one hand on the ladder at all times, he will be okay. Telling myself while swiftly switching hands to swot the bugs away.

It felt like enough time had passed to suggest we try something different.

Taking both hands off the ladder, stepping backward to look up and shout

“Stop reaching out and just get down before you get hurt.”

Before those words could leave my mouth,

I was screaming

“Let go”

Left hand on the ladder. Right hand on the pole, reaching out with his arm over a branch and resting the weight of his right side on it. Swinging the pole and his arm up to hit the branches, noting gravity, both then swung downwards. As the end of the pole became parallel with the top wire, an Arc of electricity shot out 5-6 feet like a bolt of bright white lighting attaching itself to the end of the pole.

“Let go.

MIKE, LET GO.

Let go, MIKE. LET GO.”

He couldn’t.

Maybe it was him trying to and his muscles clenching up, or another scientific reason I don’t know of yet. When the electrical shock started, he was reaching out. As it continued, he slowly brought his right hand almost next to his left.

“MIKE! MIKE!

LET GO!

MIKE!” I continued.

For more than 30 seconds. Possibly 45. I screamed variations of the same three words. In my head thinking am I supposed to start screaming I love you goodbyes?

Then his hands burst into flames.

What flashed through my mind next was a specific childhood memory from a special effects demonstration where they showed how they set people on fire for shots and the reality of what would happen to the human body on fire. My brain is on autopilot, scrambling to a memory to figure out what just happened.

The flames went out on their own a few seconds later, and my mind immediately snapped back to how is he going to get down. What if he breaks his neck or gets hurt on the fall down?

Looking out, I let out a cry for help. Angry at how was I alone out here of all times. How am I going to catch him on my own?

Then, what happened next looked strange in how gravity would work. Somehow his body swayed forward and he gently slid down the ladder. Until he was about 5 feet from the bottom, his body descended landed feet first, and then laid down in the recovery position. Face away from me.

Now his body was safe on the ground.

Time to call 9-1-1

I run down the ditch/hill to get phone service from the lot and look away. Something was telling me, don’t look. Go away. Trying to remain calm to speak clear directions with the operator.

With a direct tone, I manage to first get out something along the lines of…

“Hello, there has been an accident with a hydro line. I need you to work on sending an ambulance immediately to xxx. Then I will tell you what happened. To XXX address. Please confirm ambulence is notified before any more questions.”

Next noises came out of Mike’s body.

Air coming out of his lungs.

“Holy fuck, he’s breathing! Mike!!”

“ma’am” the operator demands back my attention. “Is he breathing?”

“I don’t know…” I reply, walking slowly towards him. Still on the lot, he’s at eye level. Hearing nothing. Trying to force myself to see any bit of movement in his back.

“You need to check if they are breathing.” She directs.

Snapping back, “Okay, give me a second to go walk back.”

Climbing back up the steep ditch/hill. Reaching the top, stopping for a second to catch my breath. The next thing that popped into my mind was the opening scene of Stand By Me. The actual line is “I was 12 going on 13 the first time I saw a dead human being.” What was ringing in my head was “the first time” and “dead body”. However, this wasn’t the first time I had seen a dead body, being that I’d attended open-casket funerals before. This would be the first time I touched one, and seeing a body on the scene was different than done up with makeup.

Getting on my knees to crawl towards his body. Anxiously reaching my left hand out as if to be testing if something was about to burn me. Scared of a shock. Looking, there is no movement I say allowed.

“Is he breathing? Are you checking his pulse?” comes shouting from the phone.

My fingertips touch and no shock. Placing my full hand on his back. I don’t need to check his pulse to confirm. This was my partner. I know what his heart beating feels like. I know what his breathing sounds like.

“No, he’s not breathing.” I quietly cry out.

“If they are not breathing you need to begin to perform CPR immediately.” The operator says sternly, trying to communicate with me. Aside from getting the ambulance, 9-1-1 felt like they were bothering me. I just wanted them off the phone and to stop talking to me, for help to arrive.

Who was I to ask the operator, do you understand what I just saw and are you sure you would still be asking me to perform CPR? This is my partner, why am I not jumping to begin?

So I put my phone on the ground and went into action. Begin CPR. Straight forward. Practiced it in training since I was at least 12 years old. Except this wasn’t a mannequin. This wasn’t a living classmate. This wasn’t someone who was unconscious. This wasn’t someone who was lightly shocked, and their heart only stopped. Understand, with the way electricity works and that high voltage, irreparable damage is done internally after less than 5 seconds. After everything inside was done… the heat worked its way out of the source. The hands. Cauterizing the entry and exit points.

His body was in the recovery position. Making it easy to pull his left shoulder towards me, and placing him in position for CPR. Thinking right after Shit! I forgot to support his neck. Quickly followed by, oh no his hands! Should I get the first aid kit… to bandage… there is no blood. The inside of his hands were gone. The exact shape of the poles as a cut-out. He won’t be able to use his hands again when he wakes up.

Snapping myself back to attention, right what’s next? Chest compressions. Okay, so find the spot and put one hand over the other. Begin pushing down to the beat of Stay Alive.

First push, a cracking sound.

Thinking to myself, Oh god! Now I’ve just broken his ribs to wake up to. Before remembering they said that part would happen. After what felt like enough chest compression, next was mouth-to-mouth. Pausing for a moment, tears running down my face as I moved in.

It didn’t feel like my body was going in with the drive to push air into his lungs. It felt like this was time to say goodbye. That this wasn’t going to be the kiss of life, no matter how hard I wanted it to be. Running through my mind then, Sleeping Beauty, snow white, and Shrek. Wanting to shake him awake if could. This can’t be goodbye. Putting my lips to his, I could barely catch my own breath as I tried to push some into him. Tears flowed down my face.

Sitting up on my knees to breathe, I tune back in the voice from the phone that’s trying to walk me through the process.

“Can you hear me? I need to walk you through how to start CPR”

Picking up the phone to begin listening to directions, I look out towards the parking lot and see help coming. McArthur and his partner Charity run over, after hearing something on their way to work. This was not a moment I’d wish to share or put someone else through, and was I ever thankful to see them. Already knowing Charity to be a strong woman, with nursing experience, she’d know what to do. Same with McArthur, he’d be able to tell me what happened because I still wasn’t sure what I saw.

Charity took over speaking to 9-1-1 and CPR.

McArthur took over and watched out for the scene. Checking between us both. Scared to have me standing by the road.

I went to run back down the hill. Threw up a little. Then stopped myself, I needed to hold my shit together and find use. Wait at the driveway to flag down the ambulance. That I could do, while just repeating prayers and please.

Please. Please. Please.

What else could I really say or ask? Was bargaining with who gonna change anything.

Just please. Please don’t take him.

The police were the first to arrive on the scene. That was maybe 10 -15 Minutes after I called 911. Standing on the driveway the rest of the time. Telling myself Don’t scream. Don’t get on your knees. Don’t be dramatic. Hold it together. No one needs to see more. Just pray. God,

Grant me the serenity to accept thing the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

and the Wisdom to know the difference.

On repeat, what else was there to ask? I just needed to focus on finding the courage to hold strong and be patient with the process of life. Every nerve clenched in my body trying to find patience.

Intermission

This is where I end this post on the first part of events. Continuing at this point is not feasible due to where I am with processing, being that I have yet to review from this point in the story to when he was pronounced dead and telling the family in my trauma therapy. Meaning those pieces are still sorta flying around and I need help to put them in order first. When the time comes, I will share more about this experience.

To summarize thus far and what else is to share.

The moment that shock of electricity arced, it takes less than a second for the voltage to stop the heart. This was power line voltage for more than 30 seconds. His soul had left his body before it hit the ground, and no power would be able to undo that. Next, was the emergency protocol. What’s left after is the scattered pieces left behind for family and friends to pick up.

To Those who need to know how Mike died,

Monday, September 5th, 2022.

September 6, 2022

Intermission

To summarize thus far and what else is to share.

To be continued…