Boy flown to hospital after getting shocked, burned in high school shop class


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ST. GEORGE — A 17-year-old boy was airlifted to University Hospital in Salt Lake City after being shocked and burned by equipment he was using in an industrial shop class, police said.

The boy was in his class at Snow Canyon High School around 1 p.m. and "burning designs into wood using an electrical current" at the time of the incident, said St. George police officer Lona Trombley.

"It was something he had done many times, but unfortunately this time he forgot to use a surge protector that was nearby," Trombley said. "At some point he came into contact with a conductor and jumper cables."

The boy's hands were burned and he fell to the ground, according to Trombley. As the boy fell, the cables fell on his chest and left arm, shocking him for about one to two minutes before he was discovered and moved away from the equipment, she said.

The boy was not breathing when he was found.

"Fortunately, when he was rolled on his side, he started breathing again, but his heart rate was very fast," Trombley said.

The boy was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center and later taken by medical helicopter to University Hospital and admitted to the burn center there.

"He was responsive (and) ... talking with officers," Trombley said of the boy's condition. "He does have some recovery for the burns, but we're optimistic that he will recover well and be home soon."

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Ben Lockhart

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