An elderly landscaper known around the neighborhood as Mr. Gabriel was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition Thursday morning after he was shocked by a power line while picking mangoes in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood, officials said. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue crews responded to the 700 block of Northeast 15th Court, where they found him badly injured.
According to WSVN, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said the man, who is in his 70s, was using a long-reach tool to grab fruit when the device made contact with an overhead power line. Paramedics took him to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.
What officials warn about working near lines
Utilities and safety regulators stress that even everyday tools and ladders can become dangerous conductors if they touch an overhead power line. Florida Power & Light cites OSHA's minimum approach distances, generally 10 feet for lines up to 50 kV, and urges people to assume any downed line is energized. The utility also recommends contacting the electric company before moving large objects or doing any work close to power lines, and calling 911 immediately if there is an emergency.
A troubling pattern in Broward
This is not the first time routine yard work has turned into a life-or-death situation in Broward County. In March, a landscaper was killed after being electrocuted while working on a tree in Dania Beach, according to Local10. In a separate November 2025 incident in Fort Lauderdale, another worker was rushed to the hospital after coming into contact with a live line, Local10 also reported. Together, the cases offer a grim reminder of how quickly a normal workday can go sideways when overhead lines are involved.
If you encounter a downed line or contact
Utility guidance is blunt on what to do if equipment hits a power line. If it is safe and there is no immediate fire or other urgent danger, the advice is to stay put rather than risk stepping into a charged area. If you absolutely must get out, you should jump clear with both feet together, land with your feet still together, then shuffle away to lower the chance of electrical shock, FPL advises. Call 911, then the utility outage number — FPL's 1-800-4OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243) — and warn anyone nearby to stay far away. Homeowners and landscapers dealing with tall trees are urged to coordinate in advance with their electric company and to hire certified arborists when branches grow near power lines.
Neighbors said the accident rattled the normally quiet block and asked for prayers for Mr. Gabriel's recovery. Officials have not released further details, and this story will be updated as more information becomes available.
