Skydiver injured in power lines

MARATHON, Fla. -- A skydiver is recovering after getting tangled in power lines during a routine jump.

Rescue crews airlifted 43-year-old Mike Wysong to Jackson Memorial Hospital on Sunday morning after Wysong got the shock of his life. The jumper became entangled in power lines, just across U.S. Highway 1, on 76th Street, after his smooth dive took a turn for the worse.

"He did get caught up in the power lines, and there is approximately 25,000 volts of power here," said Captain Eric Dunford of Marathon Fire Rescue. "He did hit the ground, and he was lying on live lines."

Wysong, a skydiver from Jupiter, was taking part in the "Keys Boogie," an annual skydiving festival staged out of the Marathon Airport.

Wysong started off by boarding an airplane just like every other jumper. When he approached the ground, however, he somehow got off course and became entangled with power lines near the airport.

"We had to wait for co-op here locally to deenergize the power lines. It was then that we trauma-alerted the patient and he was flown out by a rescue crew to Ryder Trauma center," Dunford said.

Wysong's contact with the powerlines sent power surges all along the Keys, from Marathon to as far south as Key West. The damage caused by the disruption required repair crews to fix the damaged lines.

The victim suffered second and third degree burns to 15 to 20 percent of his body. Wysong is listed in good condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

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