PORTLAND, Oregon — A person was electrocuted and fell 40 feet after climbing a power line tower to take a selfie in Southeast Portland on Wednesday.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded just after 5 p.m. to an area along the railroad tracks near Sellwood Riverfront Park. The agency reported the person, who has not been identified, climbed a steel power line tower before being electrocuted and falling into bushes on the ground below.
The line at the top of the power line tower was a 57,000 volt power line, according to Portland General Electric.
One witness said the person was trying to take a selfie. Another witness told emergency dispatchers that they saw heard a "transformer blow" and saw the person fall to the ground from the tower.
An off-duty paramedic was in the area and found the person conscious and breathing immediately after the fall, Portland Fire said.
The person was taken to a trauma center for a medical evaluation. Portland Fire did not release any other details about their condition.
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