The whole ground turned red is what a crane operator told the family of a Plant City man who was electrocuted in a construction accident on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Brady Keys, 49, was working on the foundation for a traffic light pole on U.S. 41 in North Port, according to his family. While the crew was waiting for the concrete around 1 p.m., they worked to drag a metal casing used to funnel the concrete with a crane. Keys’ body was pressed up against the casing when the cable attached to it snapped and hit the power lines overhead.
The accident left 2,800 Florida Power and Light customers without electricity.
When paramedics arrived three minutes later, they had to use special gloves and lift Keys from the scene in unison, his niece, Lindsey Hoover, said. His body was too hot at first.
“That was kind of incredible for me that they could do that,” Hoover said.
He was pronounced dead on the scene, but after his body jerked, paramedics continued to work on him. He was shocked nine time in the ambulance.
“One young paramedic just refused to give up on my uncle, praise God,” Hoover said.
They were able to secure a bed for him at Tampa General Burn Center. Otherwise, he would have been transported to either Gainesville or Miami. He is hooked up to a ventilator and in stable but critical condition. The electricity entered his hands and left through his feet, Hoover said.
“We just really don’t know at this point,” Hoover said. “They’re not telling us either way. Doctors from around the hospital have come to see him because the type of electrocution, they can’t believe he is alive.”
His family has been with him non-stop.
Nicknamed the “Incredible Hulk,” Keys was a champion wrestler at his high school in Brandon. He had scholarships in the sport, but turned them down to work with his father, Bill, in construction. Hoover said he helped install the original traffic light at the intersection of Timberlane Drive and Alexander Street in Plant City.
The avid golfer moved to Plant City after having his children, Kyle, Kasey, Kelsey and Brittany. Keys also has a daughter-in-law, Amanda, grandkids, Bailey and Brayden, girlfriend, Dedra Box, 12 nieces and nephews, two sisters and a brother all in Plant City.
The close-knit family knows a lot of people in the community. Keys frequents Daisy Dukes, a restaurant off of James L. Redman Parkway. Even the waitress cried when she found out about the accident.
The family asks for privacy at this time, but they will be posting update to Keys’ Facebook page. They encourage friends and family to post thoughts and prayers on the page at facebook.com/bradykeysrecovery.