Man fighting for life after electrocution in Melbourne’s north west

A man suffered life-threatening burns after he was electrocuted trying to rescue his crashed drone near power lines in Keilor East.

A man is fighting for life after he was electrocuted trying to retrieve a drone he crashed near power lines in Keilor East.

Emergency services were rushed to the scene at 9.30pm on Wednesday to reports of a man in his 40s on fire while harnessed to a crane.

It’s understood the man had been flying his personal drone at the park earlier that day, before the device became stuck after crashing into a power pole transformer.

He returned about 9pm with a flatbed truck and crane, using a makeshift harness in an attempt to retrieve his device when he made contact with overhead power lines.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said he was rushed to The Alfred hospital in a serious condition with upper body burns.

A second man, also in his 40s, was taken to The Alfred in a stable condition with lower body burns, it’s understood he was assisting with the crane controls.

Power lines along Brimbank Rd in Keilor East where the men were injured on January 5, 2022. Picture: Google

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police were making inquiries into the incident and believed the injured men were operating a crane at Brimbank Park when the incident took place.

“It’s believed the man was harnessed to a crane next to power lines on Brimbank Road when he was electrocuted about 9.15pm,” she said.

“The man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.”

On Thursday, a hospital spokesman confirmed both men remained at the Alfred, with one man in a “critical condition”.

A spokesman for Jemena, which manages the utility, warned people should not try and retrieve objects stuck near power lines.

“Overhead power lines carry extremely high voltages and are obviously dangerous,” he said.

“If anyone has lost something near power lines, contact emergency services or your provider to retrieve it safely.”