A shocking video from China is going viral, showing a man climbing a high-voltage transmission tower, getting burned (and causing an explosion) by the high-voltage current, and falling more than 20 meters. Most astonishing of all is that the man survived, leading many to remark that he seems “indestructible.”
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Power Transmission Tower Accidents in China and Data on Electrocution Deaths in the Power Industry
Accidents similar to the one shown in this video—where a man climbed a high-voltage transmission tower, suffered an electric shock, and fell—have been reported in China previously. In May 2018, a 22-year-old male photographer in Chongqing climbed onto the roof of a train to take pictures; he came into contact with a high-voltage line, suffered an electric shock, and died two days later. While initial reports suggested he was filming a video for the internet, his partner later denied this, confirming that the incident occurred while he was on duty. Although the cases share the common element of proximity to high-voltage lines, the circumstances differed, as the earlier incident was work-related.
According to statistics from China’s National Energy Administration, the electric power industry nationwide recorded between 35 and 36 personal injury accidents and 44 to 45 fatalities in 2020. Of these, electric shocks accounted for 7 to 8 accidents and 7 deaths—representing 10% to 20% of total fatalities—making it the second leading cause of death in the industry, following falls from heights (which resulted in 11 deaths). Even among specialized workers who have undergone safety training, electric shock remains a major cause of workplace accidents.
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