A 25-year-old Coral Springs man shocked while trying to remove Quaker parrots that were nesting on top of electric pole

Coral Springs, Florida – Man was shocked while trying to remove Quaker parrots that were nesting on top of an electric pole next to a Walmart in Coral Springs. A 25-year-old man was rushed to the hospital Thursday morning, authorities said.

The incident occurred in the area of 3801 Turtle Creek Drive around 5:45 a.m.

Two witnesses say they heard what sounded like an explosion when the man was being zapped by the 200,000 volt power lines.

“He was torched from head to toe, so his skin was peeling off,” Ruben Gonzalez, who works at the Walmart, said.

The pole the man was using to remove the birds was vaporized and he was shocked, Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Rescue Asst. Chief Joe Skrumbellos said.

The victim was apparently using some type of fiber pole that is meant for landscaping, but not high-tension power lines.

“I overheard him say to the cops that he was trying to save birds from the power lines or something, and that’s what caused the explosion,” Gonzalez said.

As the witnesses say the victim’s girlfriend was pouring bottles of water on his burns, but paramedics stopped her because that only makes it worse.

A Florida, Power & Light crew also responded to the scene to assess the power hazard.

The victim suffered second and third-degree burns to 50% of his body and is listed in serious condition. Skrumbellos said the victim was conscious and alert while being transported to Broward Health North. Later, the victim was transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

It’s still unclear what was the man trying, whether to rescue the birds or harass the birds or capture the birds so he could sell them. Firefighters say he’s lucky to be alive.

“The electrocution itself could have killed him,” Deputy Fire Chief Michael Moser said.