Hero: Man risks life to save co-worker

For Denny Williams, it was one of the scariest days of his life.

By: WSLS-TV Staff Reports | WSLS
Published: March 20, 2008

For Denny Williams, it was one of the scariest days of his life.
He and Jim Arthur were working on an oven in Craig County High School's cafeteria when a bad plug sent 440 watts of electricity through Williams’ body.
"He was changing that heating element, and he'd laid down once, and it never bothered him. When he reached back in there and got a hold of it the second time, it just froze him," Arthur said.
"It felt like a real violent shake. If I got a hold of you and shook you really hard, except for it was really, really violent," Williams said.
Williams tried his hardest to yell for help.
"I was trying to holler to kick me, kick me, because I knew what had happened, and I was trying to get Jim to kick me off of it," he said.
"But I couldn't really understand what he was saying," Arthur said.
That's when Arthur made a move that was as brave as it was dangerous.
"I just hit him, and when I did it knocked him away from it," he said.
"He took both hands and pushed me, hit me in the shoulder, and just pushed me away from it. It actually slid me cross the floor," Williams said.
Williams was taken to the hospital where he was treated for wounds on his hands and an abnormal heartbeat. His doctor told him he's lucky to be alive, because the electricity actually traveled across him.
"I don't think I could have stood too much more of the electricity, because it was pretty violent," Williams said.
"I was right there with him,” Arthur said. “I don't believe he'd be here today if I hadn't been. I don't feel like no hero. I'd do it again if I had to."
After working with Arthur for more than 15 years, Williams finally gets a chance to show his gratitude to his coworker and friend.
"Thank you, really thank you," Williams said.

Hero: Man risks life to save co-worker

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Daily Newsletter email

Most Popular