Thermon H. Deese rescued J. D. Gillman from electric shock, Milton, Florida, July 27, 1961. While testing an oscillator inside an electronic equipment trailer, Gillman, 40, electronics technician, sustained electric shock when his thumb became caught in a metal clamp in contact with a line which carried 440 volts of electricity. Gillman lost consciousness and slumped onto a wooden stool with his hand still in contact with the energized line and his back against a metal cabinet. Deese, 47, equipment mechanic, who was standing in the doorway five feet from Gillman, lunged toward him. Deese’s arm and shoulder hit Gillman’s shoulder hard, the impact knocking the latter’s thumb loose from the clamp. Gillman was knocked onto the floor, and his forehead struck another cabinet. At contact with Gillman, Deese received an electric shock which rendered him unconscious, and he fell partly atop Gillman. Meanwhile another technician had run outside to a generator, shut off the current, and returned to the trailer. By then Deese had revived and was getting to his feet. The other man assisted Deese in dragging Gillman from the trailer and then forced his looked jaws apart. Deese revived Gillman, who was removed to a hospital and treated for severe burns on his thumb, shoulder, back, and arm. Deese had sustained a burn on his forearm. Both men recovered.
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