A 29-year-old male tree trimming worker died of an apparent lightning strike on Whitewater’s west side on Monday, July 27.

Per a news release from Whitewater Fire and EMS, at 9:56 a.m. a report was received of a person stuck in a tree with a possible electrocution injury in the 400 block of South Elizabeth Street. Fire department personnel responded to the scene within approximately five minutes and found an unresponsive victim suspended about sixty feet high in a tree in a back lot of W. Laurel Street. The supervisor of the WE Energies’ contracted crew that was clearing trees in the area reported that there was a “loud bang and a flash” and they believed the tree had been struck by lightning. A weather system was moving through the city at the time of the 911 call, and there was no evidence immediately available on scene to suggest that the worker contacted energized electrical lines.

An attempt was made using Whitewater Tower Ladder 121 to reach the victim; however, due to the setback of the tree from the road, crews were unable to reach the victim. Members of the tree trimming crew then ascended the tree and lowered the victim (who was wearing a safety harness) to the ground to an EMS crew. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene. The identity of the individual is being withheld until notification to next of kin can be made.

The Walworth County Medical Examiner and the City of Whitewater Police Department will conduct the death investigation.

Mutual aid was requested from the City of Delavan Fire Department for a ladder. Truck 254 responded and was released by command a short time after arriving on scene.