Man whose arms and face melted after touching an 11,000 volt high wire while ‘stealing scrap metal’ thanks the emergency workers who helped save his life

A man whose arms and face melted after touching 11,000-volt electrical wires has thanked emergency workers who saved his life.

Darren Harris was left shocked when he attempted to steal scrap metal from an abandoned building in Wolverhampton on November 24, 2020.

He said he was “struggling to find money” during the lockdown and assumed the power in the building had been turned off.

Mr Harris suffered ‘horrific burns’ to his arms, face, chest and abdomen, with the 11,000 volt circuit breaker melting his forearms to the bone.

He also lost his left thumb, both ears and the tip of his nose and was completely unconscious from the force of the electricity.

Darren Harris pictured with paramedic Gary Williams who responded to the 999 call

Mr Harris suffered ‘horrific burns’ to his arms, face, chest and abdomen, with the 11,000 volt switchboard melting his forearms to the bone

Mr Harris pictured before his accident in November 2020

Mr Harris spent months in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he received specialist treatment.

He was in a coma for 27 days and has undergone a total of 23 surgeries so far. He is currently awaiting a date for a hand surgery.

Doctors say it is a miracle that anyone could survive such a massive electric shock through the body.

Now, four years later, Mr Harris has been reunited with paramedics Gary Williams and Matt Walker and trauma doctor Richard Fawcett who responded to the 999 call that day.

According to the BBC, Mr Harris said: ‘During lockdown I struggled to find money and would illegally collect scrap metal from buildings that were being demolished.

‘Unfortunately I stuck my left arm into an 11KV switchboard which melted my forearms to the bone.

‘I ran in front of the ambulance to stop him. Both of the paramedics’ faces were as white as a ghost.’

He lost his left thumb, both ears and the tip of his nose and was rendered completely unconscious by the force of the electricity

Darren Harris met paramedics Gary Williams and Matt Walker, along with trauma doctor Richard Fawcett four years after they saved his life

Mr Harris spent months in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he received specialist treatment

He added that he “should never have been on the site” but that he “paid a price for it.”

Traumatologist Dr Fawcett added: ‘It’s incredible to see Darren still doing so well a few years later.’

Mr Harris works as a self-employed scaffolder and has managed to return to work despite previous concerns about whether he would ever be fit enough.

He has also raised money for the Katy Piper Foundation, which helps people with burns.