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Letter to the editor

Man survives fiery 30-foot leap

By ELENA LESLEY
Published July 16, 2007

SEMINOLE - Still clutching a chain saw and with his clothes on fire, a desperate man jumped 30 feet to the ground after the boom lift he was working from caught fire Sunday evening.

A fallen limb from the tree he was trimming had clipped a live power line below him, starting the blaze.

William Cunningham Jr., 39, of Largo was transported to Tampa General Hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, according to a report from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Cunningham was helping trim a large tree on the property of his friend, Dale Kemmitzer, at 7048 111th Street N in Seminole.

Just before 7 p.m. while working from the bucket of a rental boom lift, Cunningham cut off a large section of the tree with a chain saw.

It fell on a live power line below him, which authorities believe carried 7,000 volts of electricity.

The line burned in half, igniting the boom lift and subsequently Cunningham's clothes, the report said.

Desperately trying to escape from the flames, Cunningham jumped to the ground below. Witnesses came to his aid, calling 911, and paramedics were able to stabilize him at the scene before he was picked up by a helicopter, according to the report.

"The power went out and then we heard a big boom and then we heard screaming," said neighbor James Stewart, who told Bay News 9 he ran to help the injured man, and tried to cover his wounds.

Progress Energy repaired the damaged power line. Pinellas County deputies continue to investigate.

[Last modified July 16, 2007, 08:58:52]