# Man thought he was ‘going to die’ after electric shock from overhead powerline

**URL:** <https://www.health-and-safety.uk/t/man-thought-he-was-going-to-die-after-electric-shock-from-overhead-powerline/81>\
**Category:** HSE Prosecutions\
**Created:** [5 May 2026 12:45 UTC](https://www.health-and-safety.uk/t/man-thought-he-was-going-to-die-after-electric-shock-from-overhead-powerline/81 "2026-05-05T12:45:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![olliekirksmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8491ac/32.png) [@olliekirksmith](https://www.health-and-safety.uk/u/olliekirksmith)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2026 12:45 UTC](https://www.health-and-safety.uk/t/man-thought-he-was-going-to-die-after-electric-shock-from-overhead-powerline/81/1 "2026-05-05T12:45:50Z")

</div>

Summary  
In January 2024, 26-year-old tree surgeon Joshua Pocknell sustained life-threatening injuries after an 11,000-volt overhead powerline struck a mobile lighting tower he was manoeuvring. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on the A3102 near Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, while Mr Pocknell’s team was clearing roadside vegetation. The electric shock caused severe burns to his arm and hip and left him with permanent nerve damage and chronic pain.

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), his employer, Upton Specialised Tree Services Ltd, pleaded guilty to breaching the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £6,237 in costs at Bristol Magistrates’ Court in May 2026.

Analysis  
This case underscores the catastrophic consequences of inadequate risk management when workplace conditions change. The shift to night-time working—mandated by the local council to minimise traffic disruption—introduced new hazards that the employer failed to address. Specifically, the introduction of a mobile lighting tower increased the risk of contact with overhead lines in low-visibility conditions.

The HSE investigation highlighted that the incident was “entirely preventable.” The company failed in several key areas:  
Risk Assessment: They did not adequately assess the specific dangers of overhead powerlines in relation to the height of the lighting equipment.  
Control Measures: No physical barriers or safety zones were established to maintain a safe distance from the powerlines.  
Training and Instruction: Workers were not provided with sufficient training or clear instructions on how to operate the lighting tower safely around high-voltage infrastructure.

The significant fine reflects the gravity of the safety breaches and the life-altering impact on the employee, serving as a reminder to the arboriculture and maintenance industries that safety protocols must be dynamically updated whenever working hours or equipment change.

> **[Man thought he was ‘going to die’ after electric shock from overhead powerline...](https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/05/05/man-thought-he-was-going-to-die-after-electric-shock-from-overhead-powerline/)**