Mark Olds punched his wife — and saved her life

SUSPENDED from a power line with hundreds of volts flowing through her body, 30-year-old Mark Olds’ quick thinking saved his wife’s life.

A PUNCH can kill — but for Bianca Olds it was a blow from her husband, Mark, that saved her life.

As the couple were preparing their Queensland home for sale last year, Bianca lost her balance while painting the pair’s granny flat, accidentally grabbing a powerline.

On a ladder, unable to scream for help as thousands of volts rushed through her body, it was a falling paint brush that hit the roof that alerted Mark to the terror above him.

“She was just hanging off the wire and it took about two seconds to work out was going on,” the 30-year-old Whyalla mining services worker said.

“You don't expect to see that sort of thing — she was trying to scream but nothing was coming out.

“As I got to her she was stuck (to the wire) her eyes had rolled back and all her hair follicles were standing out. You could see the blood flashing under her skin.”

Mark, who splits his time between Whyalla, and the couple’s home at Salisbury Park, said he was aware of the risks involved in trying save his wife.

“It was really scary,” he said.

“There were sparks and smoke coming off her hand and I processed in my head that she was already dead.

“I thought I’m not going to let her burn though. So I punched her in the chest and she flew off the wire and landed on the roof about 2m away.”

Bianca, who has nominated Mark for a Pride of Australia award in the Outstanding Bravery category, said she is grateful every day for Mark’s heroics.

“They said the way Mark hit me and me hitting the roof restarted my heart; I couldn't have been on the wire a second longer or I wouldn't be here today,” she said.

“I came away with only a couple of deep burn wounds on my hand from the wire, a few blisters over my body and fear for electricity.

“I owe my life to Mark and his extremely courageous and selfless act of bravery.”

Do you know a local hero, like Mark? Nominate them at www.theadvertiser.com.au/prideofaustralia.