A young lineman experienced death up close when he received a violent electric shock through his body while working on an electrical transformer in Beauport on Dec. 7.
Simon Morissette, a 32-year-old young father from Saguenay who works for Valard Construction, a subcontractor of Hydro-Québec, was busy providing additional protection against failures on a transformer on Turcot Street in the Beauport sector on a sunny afternoon.
Suddenly, 14,000 volts of electricity entered through his left hand before exiting through his left foot, which was leaning against the device he was working on.
Simon Morissette was working on this mast when it was energized. Archive photo
“I felt my whole body stiffen, then I saw my hand turn black. I have never felt worse pain. I lost consciousness and was sure I was going to die,” he admits.
After being taken by ambulance, he spent a month in the burns unit at Quebec University Hospital before being discharged last Thursday.
The industrial accident caused third-degree burns to her left hand, but doctors said she should regain full consciousness. However, the 30-year-old lost three toes on his left foot and had to have the remaining two amputated.
“Let’s say our holiday season has been cancelled,” explains Simon Morissette together with his partner Félina Fortin. This wasn’t how we wanted to spend our son’s first Christmas, but it could have been worse.”
“So far away”
In the last few weeks, the young woman made numerous trips between Saguenay and Quebec to reach her loved one's bedside. Having just returned from maternity leave, she had to take a break from her professional life to juggle the baby, the dog, the house and the hospital.
“The hardest part was that it happened far from home. I didn't know anything when it happened, I panicked. I felt so far away. Luckily I was able to visit him the next day and that calmed me down. While he was in Quebec, I also thought about Zerik [leur fils, NDLR], on his first Christmas. I didn't want him to have to do that.
Photo agency QMI, Roger Gagnon
On December 24, the Enfant Jésus Hospital allowed the entire Morissette family to meet in a room reserved for them. “It just shows that Christmas wasn’t completely in vain,” notes the man who had a close encounter with death.
The couple wanted to highlight the “extraordinary work” of the teams at CHU de Québec.
“We can never thank them enough. My left arm was as limp as spaghetti, I was sure I was going to lose it, but they saved it. They have worked wonders so that I can maintain my quality of life,” continues Mr. Morissette.
Important consideration
The 32-year-old lineman has worked for more than eight years in a job where he “knows the risks.” According to the Interprovincial Federation of Electrical Workers, the average annual salary for a full-time first-class lineman is $80,833. Despite the obvious benefits of his job, this important incident causes the young father to seriously consider his future.
“It is difficult and dangerous work. […] “We are often far from home and this story made me realize that it is important for me to be closer because I want to enjoy time with my family,” admits the one who, before his injury, worked four days a week spent outside.
Back home, Simon Morissette will undergo long treatments to regain his strength. He will also need to complete a rehabilitation program to learn to walk with the prosthesis that will replace his toes.
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