A man who survived an electrical shock of 4,160 volts has spoken out about the long-term effects of the ‘terrifying’ event.
In September 2019, John Pendleton was employed as a rock miner using heavy machinery powered by electricity when a high voltage current surged into his head.
At 36, the podcaster and content creator has no recollection of the incident, only comprehending the gravity of it after waking from a nine-day coma.
John suffered third and fourth-degree burns to 30 percent of his upper limbs, along with a brain bleed, skull fracture, and traumatic brain injury.
His wife, Tiffany, 35, was informed that her husband had a mere five percent chance of survival.
The father of two, residing in West Palm Beach, Florida, recalled: “I was hit by 4,000 volts – it entered the right side of my head and left on the left side of my neck.
“They had Tiffany with a pastor – there was a high chance I was not going to make it.
“When I got to Jackson Memorial Hospital, they said I had a five percent chance of living.
“I coded twice – two times I died.
“If it wasn’t for her, I know I would not have made it.”
John underwent an emergency tracheotomy after aspiration into his lungs.
He was subsequently airlifted to Miami Burn Center, where he remained in a coma for nine days.
John continued: “I remember a lot of my coma – it was terrifying.
“My wife was there when I woke up. She said you’ve been electrocuted.
“I did not remember who Tiffany was.
“She showed me pictures of the kids and I didn’t remember them.
“When she’d gone, I kept looking at the calendar and I realized it was my wife’s birthday and it all came back.”
Doctors had to perform multiple surgeries and drill into John’s skull to remove the dead skin from his head, hoping to stimulate tissue regeneration.
Unfortunately, his tissue did not regenerate, leading medics to perform a skin graft instead.
He stated: “They took the muscle from the left side of my back and put it on my head as a flap.
“When I came out, my head was in some of the worst pain I have ever had to go through. It was terrible.”
John went home in November 2019, though his recovery has been protracted.
He explained: “The first time I really looked at myself in the mirror I had bandages on – I didn’t see how bad my head was.
“The right side of my face was burned all the way on my cheek.
“That skin was melting off my face.
“When the bandages came off I could see my own skull.”
Tiffany also had to apply silver nitrate to John’s head to prevent keloid formation.
“She would have to burn my head every other day,” he said.
“As my head was healing, it would cause keloids. She had to rub it on them to burn them down.
“She had to physically hurt me to help me.”
The Florida resident has been left with a hole in his skull and can feel his brain in one spot.
“My brain injury hasn’t stopped me from living,” John acknowledged. “I’m grateful I can stand up, walk, talk, and move.
“I accepted that this is the way I look.
“I wear my scars with pride.”
In addition to sharing John’s story on social media, the couple has launched the Forgotten Working Class podcast, where they connect with others who have endured various types of trauma.